February 5, 2007: Japanese throw beans at gorilla
 

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These are zookeepers and visitors at the Ueno Zoo, in Tokyo, and they are throwing beans at that gorilla. Beans! It's part of a traditional ceremony to dispel demons, to celebrate the coming of spring and drive out bad luck.

So they are pegging a gorilla with beans for good luck.

Ok.

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If the gorilla eats those beans, the demons won't be the only thing "dispelled".

I'm confused.... are they throwing beans to obtain good luck for themselves, the gorilla, or the zoo? Wacky Japs. :confused:

That is uncool...

It's all just good fun until someone loses an eye...

It is my understanding that the environment is supposed to be relaxing, wholesome, safe and happy for the animals...
Getting pelted with beans all day negates all of those.
He would be better off in the wild waiting to get poached.

In the wild it would be bird or monkey poop raining down. :D

I doubt at that rate.

Uh, they are throwing beans. BEANS. What kinda 400 lbs gorilla would be physical hurt by beans. Maybe emotionally, but heh....

If I were a gorilla I'd be happy I get more variety other than leaves and twigs.

How would you like to be put in a box and be pelted with something for twelve hours a day, every day?
It would drive you insane.

Um, that would have to be a transparent box.

No. It would be annoying, but wouldn't drive me insane. Where does it say that this is done for twelve hours a day, every day? The description says it is for a "ceremony." I admit that I don't know how long this particular ceremony lasts, but ceremonies I have been to take anywhere from 5 minutes to about 3 hours.

I mean no disrespect... but I do not think you have ever been locked in a box & treated like a thing.

No offense taken.

This is very similar to throwing rice at a couple after they are married. It probably lasted for several seconds. Maybe a minute. I don't know for certain, and am just guessing, but based on the expressions on their faces, it looks like they are all enjoying a moment of bean throwing.

I did not know... I have a past. The ape area at zoos are "difficult" for me.
Geez, after my posts this last week, I seem like a loon. I assure you I'm not.