Marmots Turn to OnlyFans to Fund Research
Scientists are trying an unconventional method to finance marmot studies.
1Marmots on OnlyFans
Dr. Daniel Blumstein, who leads a long-term marmot research project in Colorado, was concerned about the future of the study due to federal funding cuts to universities. As a result, he opened an account on OnlyFans, a platform mostly known for adult content. However, the shared content consists of family-friendly videos of marmots in their natural habitat.
260-Year Research
The Marmot Project has been running for over 60 years, making it the second-longest study of individually identified mammals in the world, after Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research in Tanzania. The study focuses on the yellow-bellied marmot, one of the 15 recognized marmot species in the Northern Hemisphere. This species, being neither threatened nor endangered, helps scientists understand population change drivers.
3OnlyMarms Account
Blumstein got the OnlyFans idea after watching the TV show 'Margot’s Got Money Troubles,' where Elle Fanning's character starts an OnlyFans account to support herself as a single mother. He discussed the idea with his lab students, and they created an account named OnlyMarms. A minor hiccup occurred when Blumstein's driver's license photo didn't match the account's marmot profile picture.
4$5,000 in Revenue
The marmot videos shared on OnlyMarms have generated over $5,000 in revenue so far. After OnlyFans takes its cut, the UCLA-affiliated Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory will net about $4,000. Blumstein admits this method won't fully save the project from funding cuts but emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about their work.
5Natural Habitat Footage
On OnlyMarms, users can watch Rocky Mountain marmots in their natural environment. Blumstein notes these marmots are less social than their alpine counterparts, and female marmots grow grumpier with age. One video shows a female chasing a male who overstayed his welcome in her burrow, while another features a sunbathing female dubbed the 'queen of the town.'
6Naming Policy
To avoid bias in their research, the lab refrains from giving marmots human names. Instead, they mark the rodents with dye and assign quirky identifiers like dans_hat, open_kite, or Citroën. This approach maintains objectivity in scientific observations.
7Fat Marmot Week
Inspired by Fat Bear Week, scientists launched Fat Marmot Week, where the public can vote for their favorite plump rodent in a bracket-style tournament at the end of August. As hibernating animals, marmots gain weight before winter. Blumstein highlights that behind the fun competition lies a serious survival strategy for the long, cold months.
8Importance of Long-Term Studies
Blumstein stresses that long-term studies like the Marmot Project are scientifically invaluable yet struggle to secure federal funding. Such research plays a critical role in understanding ecosystem and population dynamics. Unconventional methods like OnlyFans offer new ways to draw attention to the financial challenges facing scientific research.
Original article: BBC News — Marmotlar Araştırması için OnlyFans'da Para Topluyor