A study discovered that bickering macaques made the effort to extend their social network by making more relationships to aid survival under the dire circumstances of an ecological disaster as occurred when a hurricane devastated the primates’ Caribbean island home. … Continue reading →
A recent study found that when humans transferred from being hunter-gatherers to farming their pet dogs’ diet changed from meat to plant-based foods. When grey wolves first became domesticated and became domestic dogs they would have been eating meat almost … Continue reading →
Puget Sound, Seattle, Washington, USA: Researchers have discovered that a formerly unknown chemical, 6PPD, in vehicle tires (tyres) which preserves them from ground level ozone, ends up killing salmon in streams. Bits if tire are thrown off tires due to … Continue reading →
Yes, horses are one of a rare group of species who appear to have self-awareness and are able to recognise themselves in a mirror. The testing process is called mirror self-recognition (MSR). The degree of recognition appears to be variable … Continue reading →
We know that octopuses are highly intelligent creatures and to that knowledge we can add a new discovery, namely that the eight tentacles of an octopus respond independently of the octopus’s brain and eyes to recoil from light as it … Continue reading →
Cuttlefish have to ability to exercise self-control which is used to attain a better reward than if they have sought immediate gratification. There is a test which finds out if kids are going to live fruitful lives and perhaps be … Continue reading →
I’ve always wondered about the kind of impact that visitors have on the emotional state of animals in zoos. Do the animals like the presence of human visitors or the opposite? There is an article today in The Times newspaper … Continue reading →
Pigs can play computer games. A study tested the ability of four pigs: Hamlet, Omelette, Ebony and Ivory. They each had their own personalities. They were taught to play a basic computer game. It is similar to the game called … Continue reading →
The intelligence of the domestic dog varies considerably. We know this because some clever dogs can quickly learn human words in large numbers while others can’t. A study published yesterday in the journal Scientific Reports found that Whisky, a border … Continue reading →
Research has discovered why woodpeckers don’t get their beaks stuck in the tree that they are pecking when digging around for grubs or making a nest. They twist their heads once the beak has hit the tree and this separates … Continue reading →
The human is the human-animal. We need to remind ourselves of that. It is unsurprising, therefore, that scientists have concluded that human beings who live as hunter-gatherers organise their social groups, find food and reproduce in similar ways to the … Continue reading →
The brown tree snake, an invasive snake species in Guam, has caused devastation among the birds of this Pacific island. It has also caused power outages when it is burnt to a crisp having climbed powerlines. The experts wanted to … Continue reading →
Here are some facts about megalodon. This is an ancient shark, also called ‘megatooth’. They gave birth to babies larger than most adult humans. The babies grow by feeding on unhatched eggs in the womb. A recent study has discovered … Continue reading →
There are dwarf giraffes in Uganda and Namibia. Most giraffes grow to between 4.5 and 6 metres in height. In a study published on the British Medical Journal website the Giraffe Conservation Foundation have reported the discovery of a 2.6 … Continue reading →
A study conducted in China in 2016 looked at the risk of dog bites and cat scratches in two cities; one a medium-sized city, Shantou, and the other a large conurbation, Shenzhen. The general conclusion that I have to draw … Continue reading →
The connection stated in the title doesn’t apply to cat owners surprisingly. But the study which took place in Sweden tells us that if a pet dog has type II diabetes then it is more likely that the dog’s owner … Continue reading →
New research from Curtin University, Perth, Australia tells us that Southern Australian long-finned pilot whales employ copycat techniques to mimic the calls of killer whales in order to improve their chance of survival because killer whales prey on them. Also, … Continue reading →
Humans have a less effective filter is selecting useful information compared to dogs as this study demonstrates. In the video you see Laurie Santos explain how humans are more trusting when instructed to do something. The child copies exactly what … Continue reading →
Scientists are currently searching for the world’s most intelligent dog to try and understand why they are born with these gifts. They put a call out on social media for exceptional dogs. And guess what? All the owners who responded … Continue reading →
A Spanish study has concluded that people who live with dogs and therefore are obliged to take them for a walk are at a 78% increased risk of contracting Covid-19. That’s about all I know. They don’t know why this … Continue reading →
