Mike's Ingenious Idea

Credit- Hugo van Lawick

 

One day as Mike was batting a gasoline can around, the loud thuds and irritating banging noises it produced resulted in a few of his fellow chimpanzees running quickly away from the strange object and the noise it produced. Mike understood this to mean that he had found a means to intimidate his fellow chimpanzees.

With some practice, Mike was able to run down the narrow forest paths smacking and slapping the raucous tin can in front of him as he emitted loud pant hoots. As he became more skilled in playing "gasoline can dribbling", he picked up speed and became a terrifyingly accurate "can batter". It was about this time that Mike realized that if one can made a terrible noise and frightened other chimpanzees- two cans would be even better!