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Are Animals Intelligent Beings?
Reasearcher, Mathias Orvath, of Lund University, in Lund, Sweden, has found what he believes to be some of the first unambiguous evidence that an animal other than humans can make spontaneous plans for future events. The report in the March 9th issue of Current Biology highlights a decade of observations in a zoo of a male chimpanzee calmly collecting stones and fash- ioning concrete discs that he would later use to hurl at zoo visitors.
“These observations convincingly show that our fellow apes do consider the future in a very complex way,” said Osvath. “It implies that they have a highly developed consciousness, including life-like mental simulations of potential events. They most probably have an ‘inner world’ like we have when reviewing past episodes of our lives or thinking of days to come. When wild chimps collect stones or go out to war, they probably plan this in advance. I would guess that they plan much of their everyday behavior.”
Migratory Behavior and Captivity
Many animals and marine creatures have an established migratory pattern that is an integral part of their mat- ing and feeding pattern. Migrating animals usually use the same routes from generation to generation. Land animals cross mountains, rivers, and vast tracks of land. Birds, bats, and insects fly long distances, sometimes crossing entire continents or oceans. Swimming animals frequently migrate half way across the world.
The movement of migratory animals usually corre- sponds with seasonal changes. Many animals in the northern hemisphere migrate to northern regions dur- ing summer months. For many animals, migration is part of the breeding and birthing process. Often there is a kind of “internal clock” accompanied by an “internal compass” that tells them when and what is next. When this natural bio-rhythm is interrupted, it can cause seri- ous psychological and physiological damage to animals, especially those in long term captivity.
Can we get to know the animals and still keep them free?
Some wild preserves have solved the dilemma of bring- ing nature and people together by establishing areas
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Oracle 20/20 April 2010
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