The #1 source for news about monkeys and apes

[Edward Fron <bigplans AT gmail.com>]

(From 
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=87775)

Monkeys on hunger strike, want onions:

[World News]: MOSCOW, March 18 : Monkeys went on a hunger strike in a
Russian zoo because handlers were not satisfying an addiction for
onions.

The animals, housed in the village zoo at Bolsherechye in the Omsk
region, refused to eat bananas, kiwis and papayas.Three hamadryads are
said to be responsible for the protest action and other monkeys had to
obey them, Novosti reported Friday.

According to zoo researcher Svetlana Balavatskaya, monkeys took to
onions in winter when zoo workers fed them to the monkeys to keep them
from contracting flu from visitors.

The zoologists missed the moment when the monkeys became onion addicts.

Usually hamadryads carefully peel an onion, thoroughly examine it and
then put it into the mouth whereupon the onions brought tears to their
eyes.

- -- Copyright 2005 by United Press International.