Many of the most beloved works of children’s literature feature anthropomorphized animals. Turns out that ascribing emotions to animals is not as far off as many parents would have their young readers believe.
In her third book, “Animal Wise: The Thoughts and Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures”, noted science writer Virginia Morell, takes readers on a fascinating exploration into the hearts and minds of wild and domesticated animals. The prolific author who has spent the last 30 years covering the sciences for publications such as “Science”, “National Geographic” and “Conde Nast Traveler” presents an accessible and informative story that is sure to blow your mammalian mind about those with whom we share the planet.
She agreed to answer a few questions for Westside Today.
WT: The description of your book says that “dolphins that rumble like rival street gangs†. Really? How? Also, is there a Michael Buffer-esque creature who serves as the ringmaster?
VM: In the wild, male bottle-nose dolphins form all-male partnerships and alliances—kind of like boys’ clubs or all-male street gangs. The simplest dolphin alliance is made up of two or three buddies. They work together to make friends with other male alliances. Why do male dolphins need buddies and alliances? It’s not to go fishing; dolphins typically hunt by themselves. They need a pal in order to capture female dolphins. Male and female bottle-nose dolphins are about the same size, and a single male can’t control a female by himself. So he gets a partner, and when they find a fertile female, they use their bodies to fence her in, and make warning calls and clicks to her, telling her to stay put. Of course, other males want her, too. They may attack a partnership that looks weak. That’s why the males also need allies. They can call in the troops if they’re under attack. In western Australia, the dolphin researcher I visited told me he’d seen more than twenty male dolphins battling over a single female (poor thing). And, no, there’s no referee. They fight until one group gives up and swims away, leaving the other with the prized lady.
WT: Why is the knowledge that rats like to be tickled of value to humanity?
VM: Knowing that rats laugh and like to be tickled tells us that having fun and expressing joy are very ancient biological traits—they didn’t appear just with us. Playing is at the heart of growing up, whether you’re a reptile, fish, bird, or mammal. Researchers who study how animals play think that it serves a number of different purposes, including practice at being an adult. Rats like to be tickled, the researchers say, because it’s a social activity. Rats that aren’t allowed to play become depressed, just as most of us would. Young rats need to play and laugh together to learn how to control their emotions and how to behave socially—play helps build and shape the social parts of their brains. And if that’s true for rodents, one of the earliest mammals, it is most likely true for all mammals, including humans. One other point: When a female rat is given a choice between a male rat that has played and laughed, and one that has not, she chooses the happy fellow.
WT: We adopted our dog from a local animal shelter when he was a few months old. Despite a loving home, I still think that he worries that he will be abandoned again. Am I ascribing my fears to my mutt or is there research to back me up? If these concerns are more than just neurotic, is there anything I can do to sooth my poor pup’s angst?
VM: I recently read about a very interesting study, which showed that dogs can be pessimists or optimists. The researchers discovered that some dogs always expect to find at least some food in their bowls (they’re the optimists), and others always expect their bowls to be empty (they’re the pessimists). It’s just like us—some of us expect to see the glass half-full, and others see it as half-empty. It could be that you have a pessimistic pooch; perhaps because of something traumatic that happened to him before he ended up in the shelter. Or he may have been deeply upset by the shelter experience. Regardless of how it came about, he may indeed be frightened that you—and all your love and care—may vanish forever whenever you leave. There are steps you can take to reassure him; a good trainer who uses the reward-method of training can help you. You can also help alleviate your dog’s worries by acting normally whenever you leave, and when you return. Don’t fuss over him, or make your return the happiest moment of his day. Save that joy and excitement for other events, like taking a walk together or playing his favorite game.
WT: Why do people say cats and dogs don’t get along? We had a cat for about a decade and some of our greatest entertainment was watching our dog and cat play and chase each other.
VM: Cats and dogs can most certainly get along. Our neighbors got a kitty when we got our first puppy, and they loved playing together. When the people moved away, Bud the cat went with them. Quincie, our dog, searched for Bud for days; we found that we could no longer say Bud’s name because Quincie would look for him. Scientists who study our companion animals say that this kind of relationship—and the one your dog and cat had—most often comes about when the animals are young and have each other as primary playmates. When you already have a cat or a dog in your home, and you want to adopt another pet, it’s wise to check with your veterinarian or trainer to find out the best way to introduce them to each other so that they can become friends and not competitors.
