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The ele example is almost a tear jerker. I saw that dolphin story and hoped that its daily life of interacting with humans was completely on its own terms. I don't care for the forced interaction programs. Several times I've visited areas in the middle of the ocean where dolphins choose to swim with humans, sometimes for just a few seconds and sometimes for prolonged interaction (but no touching). But these animals were completely wild and free to swim off whenever they want and received no food from humans.

That helpfulness is one thing I like about wild dogs. I saw one at Chitabe with terrible, disfiguring wounds that had healed enough for it to survive and be productive only because the other pack members constantly attended to the wounded animal and brought it food. I know the dogs need each pack member to better their own chances of survival, but still it is a noble characteristic of that species.

The source of altruism, an interesting topic.

This is of no surprise to me.

It's kind of an old discussion of course; do animals have feelings? What are their thoughts? How intelligent are they? Etc... We've been wanting to know what goes on in an animal's mind for a long time. Most of the time we do so by comparing what they do with what our species does.

My personal take on this is that it takes some kind of finesse, some kind of openness if you will, a certain degree of intelligence, to see that animals are often far more intelligent (ic far more capable of doing stuff) than most people would believe (or better: know).

Also, I find that those who do NOT see an animals' full capabilities are often the most blunt people in our species.

Must... not... mention... hunting...

I'm sure plenty of you have read Marc Bekoff's work on emotions and compassion in non-human animals. He theorizes that emotions and a sort of 'moral code' has evolved in most species because it increases not only an individual's chance of survival and reproduction, but also his/her relatives (who will thereby pass on his/her genes)...

In addition, being compassionate and helpful to your pack-mates is a good way to assure that you remain with the pack for your entire life, thereby greatly, greatly increasing your chances of survival and reproduction.


Pairing the idea of non-human animals' emotions with the idea of 'survival of the fittest' is an interesting concept to consider. It's impossible for anybody who has spent any time around animals (wild or domestic) to deny the presence of at least some emotions- but the question of which emotions, and why is truly interesting.

Great story, and I agree with Waoza. It's impossible for someone to deny emotions some emotions when they've been around animals. But sometimes I envy animals, because they all seem to just live in the moment.

I agree that many animals exhibit a range of emotions. Just because they are not exactly like ours, we shouldn't deny that they exist.

As to living in the moment, that is more of a challenge for we humans. But dogs burying bones or squirrels burying nuts exhibit a lot of forethought. I wonder if they worry about their stashes.

i have seen a captive bobcat help her older mate by leading him to the food..animals i think work on a different wave length of sorts. Some are no doubt smarter and more talented than us in ways, (i would not know how to hunt as well as a wild dog nor smell blood like a shark, or remember like an elephant) and also i would like to think that no animal would rule in a way that would ultimately led to the destruction of the earth's resources other than humans and roaches