Do you know a few people (okay, a lot of people) who have craptastic camera phone pictures of themselves posted everywhere? Well, those people should be ashamed of themselves because a macaque from Indonesia who ‘borrowed’ a photographer’s camera took a self-portrait, and it’s beautiful. What does it prove? Probably that the rise of the planet of the apes is inevitable.
Of course, you must take that glowing first paragraph with a grain of salt. News of the macaque pics was universally panned and dismissed by the public, claiming that the resulting photographs weren’t pretty accidents but total fabrications. Maybe humans are just arrogant, or maybe we shouldn’t be thinking too deeply about this story.
The True Story Behind the Viral Selfie
Anyway, the true and real account of what happened in the jungles of Sulawesi involved pro photographer David Slater, who traveled to the macaque’s lair with a few guides. The macaques, despite being endangered, were quite benign and even friendly. They did prove very enthusiastic about David’s camera equipment, which a member of the monkey group ‘experimented’ with by taking a few hundred photographs, most of them terrible.
David Slater’s journey to capture the essence of these fascinating creatures turned into an unexpected viral sensation. The macaque, later identified as Naruto, managed to take a series of selfies that captured the world’s attention. The most famous of these images shows Naruto grinning into the camera, a picture that has since become iconic.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The story didn’t end with just a viral photo. It sparked a significant legal and ethical debate about the ownership of the photograph. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) filed a lawsuit claiming that Naruto should be the rightful owner of the photograph, not David Slater. This lawsuit brought to light important questions about animal rights and intellectual property. The case was eventually settled, with an agreement that a portion of the proceeds from the photograph would go towards protecting the habitat of Naruto and his fellow macaques.
This incident also raises questions about the interaction between humans and wildlife. While the macaques were friendly and curious, it’s essential to remember that they are wild animals. The ethical considerations of interfering with their natural behavior and habitat are significant. David Slater’s experience highlights the delicate balance between capturing stunning wildlife photography and respecting the animals’ natural environment.
Now if it only figured out how to open its own Facebook account.
The viral nature of the macaque selfie also underscores the power of social media in spreading stories and images. In today’s digital age, a single photograph can reach millions of people worldwide in a matter of hours. This phenomenon can be both a blessing and a curse, as it can bring attention to important issues but also lead to misinformation and sensationalism.
Source Telegraph
Image Credit: David Slater/Caters
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
