There are thousands of stories that people have to tell about animals that have exhibited different actions that justify – they can think and feel. Although humans don’t always know what the animals are thinking at the moment their actions reveal their thoughts and their feelings.
Marine ecologist, professor, and author, Carl Safina, spent years staying and researching the day to day activities of animals. Especially wolves, elephants, dolphins, and whales. He then penned down his thoughts on the relationship of animals with humans and the natural environment in his book – Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel. In his book, he intensely explores the intelligence and emotional character of animals.
Along with the social complexity of the animals, Safina has also explored many more theories of animal intelligence. When it comes to self-recognition, almost all animals can distinguish themselves from others. But very few can recognize their image in the mirror like elephants, dolphins, chimpanzees, and magpies. Safina has also explored their unique abilities to communicate, their social structure (which is highly-developed), and many more indices of their intelligence.
What do animals think and feel?
Thoughts and feelings are emotions and just like it is difficult to learn what a human is thinking or feeling, it is the same for the animals too. The only way to understand them is to spend a lot of time around them or with them. Their actions and behavior with humans, the environment, their own kind, and other animals are what determines and helps us understand their feelings and thoughts.
It is somewhat easy for us to understand what our pets need because they stay with us. They will express their feelings through certain actions which we can comprehend. However, the same cannot be said for other animals. Observing them for long by spending time with them closely or staying amidst them would let you explore more about their thoughts and feelings.
It was only after learning about some animals for years that people like Safina have been able to unfold some of their emotions and thoughts. For instance, an elephant mourns the death of their own. Seagulls drop shellfish to get access to its contents. Super wolves never lose a fight, but they also never kill their enemy. Lions/hyenas/whales/wolves all share their food. Crows can distinguish different faces of humans and also create different noises for each of them. Chimps greet each other with hugs if they see someone after a long time. Chimps also grieve for the loss of their own, and their loss is so profound that they do not wish to continue living anymore. Lemurs, too, have seen to mourn the loss of their close family member.
The emotional depth and intelligence of animals are yet to be explored. Several researchers and animal enthusiasts have dedicated their lives to learn more about them.
How do we care for them at Animal Club
We at Animal Club understand that animals too can feel and think and, therefore, always strive to provide them with the best possible care. Animal Club offers you much more than presenting to you some animals to interact with. You can contact us for animal handling workshop, mobile zoo and animal school visit. We also set up cotton candy and animal face painting stalls if you are having an animal party theme. We offer interesting animal parties packages that will keep all your guests entertained and happy. An animal workshop is fun and we can arrange the same for both kids and adults.