GORRILA STORY: Like 10 years ago I read a story talking about family
values in animals. The story told about a gorilla (or oranatang or
other monkey type animal) who was hit by a car and seriously wounded
or killed. Anyway, he had a tribe of other gorillas (or monkey-like
animals) who witnessed his death and remembered the car. When the man
driving the car returns to the road where he hit the gorilla (or
monkey-like animal), the other members of the victim gorilla's family
recalled the car and attacked it. All I need is a copy of this story
or a contact number of a person who is familar with the event. A few
friends of mine have entered into a bet and are willing to lose a
great sum of money by betting against this story. Please find whatever
you can regarding this story (The article featuring the story focused
on family ties in animals).

Thanks to the lead about Saudi Arabia provided by mistertard in his
comment below, I've tracked down what I am certain is the story you
need. The creatures involved were baboons, and the incident took place
in Saudi Arabia.

"There have been recent accounts of baboons seeking revenge against
humans. In once such incident, stone-throwing baboons in Saudi Arabia
waited three days on the side of a mountain road to take revenge on a
driver who had killed one of their pack."

The Austin Chronicle
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2001-07-27/cols_smartypants.html

"Stone-throwing baboons in Saudi Arabia waited three days on the side
of a mountain road to take revenge on a driver who had killed one of
their group.

Al-Riyadh reported on Saturday that the primates laid in wait and
ambushed the driver on the same mountain road in southwest Saudi
Arabia from Mecca to Taif where the baboon had been run down earlier
in the week.

After spotting the car responsible for the death, one of the apes
screamed out a signal to the rest to attack, provoking the frenzied
stone throwing. Although the driver was able to escape, the apes broke
out the windshield of his car.

At least 350,000 baboons live in the Gulf state."

LUSENET: STONE-THROWING BABOONS TAKE REVENGE ON DRIVER 
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=004CxB

"In Saudi Arabia, a man learned a lesson in baboon gang warfare.
Apparently, earlier in the week the man was driving through a
mountainous road where he ran over a baboon. Thinking nothing of it,
the driver got back in his car and resumed his life... Finally, the
grieving baboons implemented their revenge. They lay hiding on the
side of the exact mountainous road where their beloved pal had been
killed and waited for the driver. When the car was spotted, one of the
baboons screamed out a signal and the others began to bombard the car
with rocks and stones. The driver escaped, sporting newly soiled
underwear and a broken windshield."

Tablet Newspaper: Monkey Love
http://www.tabletnewspaper.com/vol2iss_21/features/monkeylove.htm

"Stone-throwing baboons waited three days for revenge on the side of a
mountain road in Saudi Arabia to take revenge on a motorist who had
killed one of their group. After finally spotting the car responsible
for the death, one of the apes screamed out a signal for the rest to
attack, provoking a frenzied bout of stone throwing. The baboons then
ripped out the windscreen of the car. The driver managed to escape the
attack, which took place on the same stretch of road, between Mecca
and Taif, where the baboon had been run down."

Ananova: Revenge attack by stone-throwing baboons
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/academic/class/16741-s05/www/baboons09122000.pdf

"Stone-throwing baboons in Saudi Arabia waited three days on the side
of a mountain road to take revenge on a driver who had killed one of
their group. Al-Riyadh reported on Saturday that the primates laid in
wait and ambushed the driver on the same mountain road in southwest
Saudi Arabia from Mecca to Taif where the baboon had been run down
earlier in the week. After spotting the car responsible for the death,
one of the apes screamed out a signal to the rest to attack, provoking
the frenzied stone throwing. Although the driver was able to escape,
the apes broke out the windshield of his car. At least 350,000 baboons
live in the Gulf state. Who says animals have no emotions? If you can
plot revenge, you must be able to feel anger."

The Jekyl Archives 
http://www.jekyl.com/jekyl/arc_2000.htm

"Saudi Arabia is particularly baboon prone these days, with tales of
baboons raiding farms, houses, and even schools. But probably the
strangest report was where a troop deliberately wait in ambush.
According to newspaper accounts, a local resident, driving along the
road from Mecca to Taif, accidentally struck one of the baboons living
along the side the road. Although the driver may have felt a bit bad
about it, he drove on and probably didn't think much more about the
matter.

But when he returned three days later, he had quite a surprise. As he
passed by the same spot, a 'sentinel' animal screeched out a warning,
and the whole troop began pummeling the driver in a frenzy of stone
throwing. Although the vehicle sustained considerable damage,
including a broken windshield, the driver managed to escape."

Toonsamples: Then Why are Baboons Just Plain VERMIN?
http://members.aol.com/Toonsamples/baboons.html

Google search strategy:

Google Web Search: "saudi arabia" baboon revenge
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22saudi+arabia%22+baboon+revenge

I hope this helps you to win your bet!

Best regards,
pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 28 Feb 2005 19:29 PST

It appears that baboons have a vengeful nature indeed:

"1996 Nov 30, It was reported that in the Tororo district of
southeastern Uganda, Okecho killed a male baboon for damaging his
maize and banana plantations. Some 30 baboons mourned the death of
their comrade and carried him off. The baboons later returned and
killed Okecho and pulled out his heart."

http://timelines.ws/20thcent/1996G.HTML

Thanks for the quick response, thats exactly the answer I was looking for.

I haven't been able to find your story, but here is a somewhat similar event:

"Then there's anger. In Tezpur, India, a troop of about 100 rhesus
monkeys brought traffic to a halt after a baby monkey was hit by a
car. The monkeys encircled the infant - who lay in the road, his hind
legs crushed - and blocked all traffic. A government official reported
that the monkeys were angry, and a local shopkeeper said: 'It was very
emotional... some of [the monkeys] massaged [the infant's] legs.
Finally, they left the scene, carrying the injured baby with them."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/features/246index.shtml

The story appeared in the LA times in 1988.

Here is a link to a preview of the article:
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/58866330.html?did=58866330&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&date=Mar+28%2C+1988&author=&desc=Monkeys+Seek+Revenge+for+Slain+Companion

You're welcome for the "lead" pinkfreud.  These all relate the same story.

The info was very much appreciated, mistertard. Without the Saudi
Arabia connection, I wouldn't have found the material that I posted
above. It's a remarkable story. It sounds so human.

My pleasure.  I'll have to remember to tie it back to a Google search next time. :)

This was fascinating to read, incredible!