Robotic tuatara fools males, partakes in social dominance study

Although Wowwee's farm of robotic animals are quite the playful bunch, they aren't exactly prime targets for participating in a biological study of how animals interact in the wild, but Jennifer Moore from Victoria's School of Biological Science is aiming to use a faux tuatara to be the focal point of a new study. Modeled after a highly-regarded and recently deceased tuatara named Oliver, the new creature will purportedly be mingling with others of its kind in order to give a first-hand view on "social dominance and aggression in wild tuatara." Crafted by the Weta Workshop, Robotic Oliver will be used for the first time next month on the tuatara capital of the world, Stephens Island, in order to carefully inspect male mating habits in an effort to "significantly enhance conservation efforts." Of course, utilizing robotic clones for the betterment of a species seems like a brilliant idea, but we should probably all join in unison and hope this same stunt isn't pulled on the human population.

[Via RobotGossip]

[Mark @ Mar 1st 2007 9:48AM]

"we should probably all join in unison and hope this same stunt isn't pulled on the human population."

How do you know it hasn't been already?

[Matt @ Mar 1st 2007 9:48AM]

I, for one...

[nigel @ Mar 1st 2007 10:45AM]

its like Blade Runner...with lizards!

[Yayaja @ Mar 1st 2007 10:45AM]

"Robotic tuatara fools males"

Please, males of ANY species don't need to be "fooled" into having sex with a robot. Most human males, especially otakus, will gladly do it knowing full well its a robot.

[lol. @ Mar 1st 2007 1:04PM]

You probably thought you were striking some geyser of truth with this moronic comment.

Good work, you stepped up to the bullhorn, shouted "I'm an idiot" and it resonated across the internet. Thank you.

For one, how do you know males of ANY species would be fooled, and secondly, Otaku or not, I don't know many men who would willingly screw a robot. Maybe your social circle needs some cleaning.

[Matt @ Mar 1st 2007 11:22AM]

So let me get this straight....Dick Cheney is a robot!??

[Mike @ Mar 1st 2007 11:53AM]

duhh...isn't apparent that he's stuck in an endless loop?

I don't think the robot is meant to try and seduce the others, but to just be there to observe without freaking out the others with humans, yayaja. After all, they're all on an island, and they've probably never seen many other species of animals, so a normal robot would freak them out.

[crackpipe @ Mar 1st 2007 12:07PM]

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those ... moments will be lost in time, like tears...in rain. Time to die.

[John Stracke @ Mar 1st 2007 12:24PM]

I hope the robot isn't based on Oliver's behavior *after* death...

[Drew @ Mar 1st 2007 1:00PM]

Robotic tuatara's are all the rage lately....

[js @ Mar 1st 2007 1:51PM]

... welcome our playful, sexual, robotic tuatara overlords.

[Chuckles McGee @ Mar 1st 2007 4:56PM]

I love you, Marilyn Monrobot!

[pagercam @ Mar 1st 2007 6:01PM]

The story seem to have neglected to mention that Victoria University and Stewart Island are both in New Zealand (my father went to Victoria), gotta get the props for the ole home country.

Reminds me of the old New Zealand joke about how to eat a Tuatara:

1) Find large flat rock
2) Place Tuatara on rock
3) Find second second flat rock
4) Smash, Tuatara with second rock to tenderize
5) Eat second rock, because bloody rock has to be more tender than a Tuatara!