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Comment by aussieguy1234 | Hacker News Reader

I'd doubt this will end the exploitation of the slave monkeys that are forced to pick coconuts. They're likely cheaper than a robot. For this reason, I don't buy coconut products from Thailand.

https://investigations.peta.org/monkeys-abused-coconut-milk/

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The idea is pretty neat imo. Its a simple mechanism. Over the long term I suspect it may even be cheaper to use the robot cause the robot does not need to be fed or managed. I'm tempted to build one myself as the parts cost doesn't look like it'll exceed $1.5K. The music in the video though...

According to https://www.wfft.org/wildlife-general/a-growing-trade-monkey... monkeys cost between $1000-$4000/head

Also do note that monkey based coconut picking is on the decline: https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-08-26/does-thailand-have-mo... Only a small proportion of coconuts are actually picked by monkeys.

So depending on the monkey the robot may be cheaper.

Another cost farmers will likely look at is the cost of a monkey handler, which are widespread vs the cost of a specialised employee who can operate a robot. Unfortunately, the monkey handler is likely cheaper.

As far as i know training this monkeys takes time, the robots will do the job right away if you put this in the long term the robots is cheaper than keep a monkey. But of course they should make it simple in the way that a non specialized employee can operate the bot without any problem.

Monkeys being made to scale up trees? How inhumane. Better have some poor guy do it instead.

Just out of idle curiousity, are you the sort of person who would describe a pack mule as a slave? Sheep dog? Service animal?

This isn't intended as a 'gotcha', everyone has a line. Given that you're willing to quote PETA without spitting on the ground, I'd infer that you are far into the animal rights, militant vegan camp? Is that fair?

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