Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 15

TT TT Corpus ChrisliC aller TV Womeirs News FRIDAY JUNE 1977 PAGE SB 4 Monkey see monkey dp By MILLER BONNER Dr Wendy Ruder says to Valentine her orangutan student of sign language She has been working with the apes for nearly three months commuting from the Pan Am campus in Edinburg to Brownsville a round trip of about 120 miles She became enamored with apes while working on her doctorate in experimental psychology at Oklahoma State University "While at Oklahoma State I would travel to Oklahoma (University at Norman) and work with Roger Pouts" she said "She became hooked" noted her husband Jay a photography and psychology instructor at Pan Am who is filming his progress with her newfound friends "I really love them now that we know each other" she said "At first I thought I would stand on one side of the cage and they would stay on the other but they became friendly "I wanted to do three things the first day we met" Dr Ruder continued tried to get down on their level A figure standing upright over an ape is a threatening figure I made very noncommittal facial expressions When we smile we show our teeth' and that expresses anxiety and nervousness to the apes "And I avoided direct eye contact which signifies a dominance struggle Before entering the cage zoo officials required Dr Ruder to have a complete physicial examination "Apes are very close to us biologically They are very susceptible to every disease we have' she explained See Menkey Page 7B EDINBURG Dr Wendy Ruder geta a kick out of teaching aign language to apes She alao geta an occaaional bite and bruiae have tremendoualy strong hand and linger" ahe aaid after a aeaalon with her three Syoung pupila at the Gladya Porter Zoo in Brownsville "My legs stay spotted from the places they grab me Her sign language class consists of Sakarl a 2-kyear-old gorilla Holly a 3-year-old orangutan Valentine a S-year-old orangutan Teaching the apea sign language a new experiment she explained but added this is the "first attempt to teach a mixed group of apes and £it has never been done with orangutans The primary purpose of her efforts Dr Ruder wadded is to see if orangutans the third member ef the great ape family also share the capabilities demonstrated by gorillas and chimpansees "The orangutans are considered slower duller fthan the chimps or gorillas" she said for example showed me her weakness almost right away but the orangutans haven't showed Jme what turns them on yet" rj Sakari would "sell her soul to be continued the 28-year-old assistant professor at Pan American University I "Now I'll tickle her and make her ask for more I'll mold her hands into the sign for more believe she understands the sign but she doesn't always do it perfectly Now we're trying to im- prove her Moling Out i Clearance Sukari learns sign language for while Holly takes time out to play peekaboo 334 North Chaparral Carp ChritN Tni 7B40I ALL NEW WRlHb-MMER MRCMHOltf HOT tKCUfflC I-CURDI ORGhMuTCX -50 OFF lUNLlVSONttf- 40T0FF b- -Till OFF ILL WUtS HMAU CMA-llAllRCMAftel-liAfiKMftERtCARP Mtufl UCCK Oft lJKArON-OftMNfa 3UU W) AuAbiflKK4Q0Affc Sandals Perfect for Summer! -wmocm FOR SAND SEA htatsStiS -15! -899 CNdren's 9 to 12-GriilS to 3 799 199 Shoe A 4 to 9 Shoe 4 to 7 Select from Red White Tan or Navy Getting to the bottom! Layers colors and newsy rope tricks coast along under bareback straps thongs ankleties TIC BILL Mrs-Stadn M14I55 TOWN I C08NTIY 42S4SslNms SS3-222 QUALICR AFT SHOE STORES Master Charge Shoppers Charge 419 CHAPARRAL' ST PADRE-STAPLES MALL.