! Lecture alert !
Can't say this enough -- what we DON'T know about other species is destroying them. Our egocentric thinking has allowed us to dismiss how other animals think, feel, and behave, which has led to their exploitation and the detriment of their well-being. Given that even our own cultural and gender biases have shaped our misinformation about how humans behave, this is not unexpected.
I'm sure you've heard about the alpha wolf. This became a trope for many animals, including humans (anybody recognize the alpha male silliness?). This idea came about because the researchers at the time were studying random captive wolves in zoo settings. By now, thank goodness, this myth has been exposed for what it is -- shoddy research. Farley Mowat wrote a fictional account of his actual studies of Arctic wolves in the wild and opened the eyes of those who wish to see the truth (or nearer to). His book Never Cry Wolf debunked so many tropes about wolf packs and their hunting practices, that for a time, people actually realized their benefit to the ecosystem. Then, of course, people being people, they started decimating wolf populations and created a whole new environmental mess in national parks and other areas.
Jane Goodall led the way for more researchers actually going out into the field to study their subjects. Her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees and gorillas broke so many stereotypes and misconceptions about their family groups and interactions with others of their kind. She also opened the floodgates for examining the very inaccurate notion that only humans know how to fashion and use tools. From her groundbreaking work, we now know that multiple species use tools, including (gasp) birds.
Perhaps my favorite author and researcher is Peter Wohlleben, a German forester who has written several books on the natural world. The Inner Life of Animals is a great place to start thinking about our interactions in a new way. The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel and how they communicate makes a compelling case for plant sentience. I mention the idea that trees must have intelligence and feelings to only a select number of people because I know the reaction is usually that I am looney tunes. Happy to wear that hat because there is increasing evidence to support that. And as if that's not enough to shake you up, yes, fish can feel pain, and insects have feelings too.
The latest in animal research is something that should surprise absolutely no one. In fact, I've never understood how this was even a question. We have known for a while that whales and dolphins can communicate with complete sentences (of clicks and songs), so why would it be surprising that elephants are able to communicate in sentences as well. Or for that matter, flies - who knows? Anyway, as a foster mama of an elephant, my eye caught this article and for anyone interested, here's the link:
https://www.salon.com/2024/05/27/researchers-decode-how-elephants-form-sentences-lending-insight-to-their-complex-communication/
And so I'll leave you with this thought for those of us who have dogs. Humans always think they're so smart, but how many of us are bi-lingual? Well, think about it. Dogs not only know how to talk to other dogs, but they also understand the language of their guardians. They understand verbal instructions like sit, down, stay. They also understand when you ask about their day and if they are ready to go for a walk. And while they aren't able to reply in human language, they do make themselves understood. Like Rascal, who is currently barking his head off with the command to feed him and feed him NOW. Gotta go.
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