Animal Have Feelings

2110 words 9 pages
Show More
Nicholas Destino
Professor Thomas
English 101
10 November 1997
Do Animals Have Emotions? Somewhere in the savannas of Africa a mother elephant is dying in the company of many other pachyderms. Some of them are part of her family; some are fellow members of her herd. The dying elephant tips from side to side and seems to be balancing on a thin thread in order to sustain her life. Many of the other elephants surround her as she struggles to regain her balance. They also try to help by feeding and caressing her. After many attempts by the herd to save her life, they seem to realize that there is simply nothing more that can be done. She finally collapses to the ground in the presence of her companions. Most of the other elephants move …show more content…

Although other primates also engage in similar behaviors, chimps even go so far as to embrace, and attempt to console, the defeated animal (“Going Ape” 78). Another striking example of one animal showing sympathy for another is the account cited by Barber of a parrot comforting its sick mate. It is not, however, the only example of this type of behavior, especially among birds. Barber cites several other instances as well. According to Barber, documented records show that responsible observers have seen robins trying to keep each other alive. Also, terns have been known to lift another handicapped tern by its wing and transport it to safety. Likewise, a jay has been known to successfully seek human help when a newborn bird of a different species falls out of its nest. What makes this latter example particularly noteworthy is that the newborn wasn’t a jay but an altogether different type of bird. Had the jay been helping another jay, it would be easy to assume that the act of caring was the result of what scientists call genetic altruism—the sociobiological theory that animals help each other in order to keep their own genes alive so they can reproduce and not become extinct. Simply put, scientists who believe in genetic altruism assume that when animals of the same species help each other out, they do so because there is something in it for them—namely the assurance

Related

  • Animal Farm - Character Analysis- Boxer the Horse
    1277 words | 6 pages

    novels, we are able to relate to some characters through similar experiences and emotions and so these characters often invite our understanding and empathy. In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, Boxer the horse invites our empathy. We empathise with Boxer and the way in which the pig Napoleon, the leader of Animal Farm, takes advantage of his good-natured personality and manipulates him into following all orders. Boxer is unaware of the fact that he is being taken advantage of and that Napoleon….

    Show More
  • Should Animals Be Kept in the Zoo?
    1111 words | 5 pages

    Animals play an important role of human life. Wild animal is a kind that normally lives in the wild, for example: elephants, tigers, rhinos and many others. They live in the wild with spacious and natural environment, however many humans kept them in the zoo, as an attraction for the sake of the money. They didn’t think of the wild animals habitat, and there are some problems arise from keeping them in cages. The shock of being in captivity would depress the animals; they would even act hysterically….

    Show More
  • Save Animals. Say No to Animal Testing!
    1364 words | 6 pages

    Argumentative essay: Save animals. Say no to animal testing! Nowadays, it is a well-known fact that many companies test their products like cosmetics and medicines with animals before production to check their products ’safety and quality. A huge amount of animals are used in research purpose every year. Is it right for human beings to sacrifice millions of animals for testing purpose? Should animal testing be banned? Animal testing is a controversial issue and there is a heated debated about pros….

    Show More
  • Religious Behavioral Development in the Stone Age
    1110 words | 5 pages

    people were very spiritual; everything was treated as a spiritual act. They approached everything ritualistically and their behaviors were in response to the numinous. The numinous is described as a feeling you get when you can’t explain something. There is archaeological evidence pointing to animal worship during this time too. Spiritual beliefs in the Paleolithic gave way to forms of….

    Show More
  • Recreation, Leisure and Play
    3835 words | 16 pages

    Leisure The idea of leisure has been in existence for many centuries and has come to have many different meanings depending on the period in history or the civilization that it originated from. From as early as Ancient Greece, Rome or Babylonia, the term we now know as leisure has existed in some form or another. As has been widely noted in introductory recreation texts, schole was both the ancient Greek word for leisure meaning, “serious activity without the pressure of necessity” and is….

    Show More
  • Analysis of 'a Bird Came Down the Walk' by Emily Dickinson
    865 words | 4 pages

    the differences between animals and humans. Nature is initially presented as a brutal force. Dickinson creates vivid imagery of an 'Angleworm' being bitten 'in halves' by the bird. The bird's basic need for sustenance takes priority over its other instincts, causing it to behave mercilessly towards its prey. Similarly, in 'A Narrow Fellow in the….

    Show More
  • Fields in Psychology
    1787 words | 8 pages

    Fields in Psychology | Definition | Abnormal Psychology | It is the study of abnormal behavior. It is actually a branch of psychology that deals with the study of abnormal behavioral patterns and their causes. | Psychology of Addiction | A complete dependence on a certain substance or drug is known as addiction. Both physiological and psychological factors can lead to addiction. The psychology of addiction analyzes these factors and attempts to find ways of controlling addiction. The study of….

    Show More
  • Grendel vs. Beowulf
    982 words | 4 pages

    was seen in this novel as a thinking and feeling individual whose intelligence is equivalent to many of the men. His death was not only from physical wounds but also from the fact that he would never be a man. Grendel was fascinated with the boasting revelry of the men and wanted to be accepted by them. On the contrary, in Beowulf Grendel died because he was an animal with no set purpose. In this poem he was not thought of as an equal, but as an animal. However, Grendel’s mother avenged….

    Show More
  • In Vitro Meat
    1102 words | 5 pages

    more important than that of an animal? Would you be willing to speak up for them? Are you up for the challenge? You might not be, but we shall see if I can change your mind after reading this. Humans have long used animals for a variety of purposes. For hundreds of thousands of years, people have hunted for food and clothing. Between 10,000 and 18,000 years ago, humans began to domesticate animals such as dogs,….

    Show More
  • Petco.Com: Turning Negative Reviews Into Positive Sales
    883 words | 4 pages

    Customer-Centric Philosophy Petco has a very strong personnel policy and code of ethics which put animals first. They focus on hiring animal lovers first regardless of their retail experience. Hiring animal lovers first gives the employee a better opportunity to establish a relationship with the customer. Then they have a great employee training program focusing on animal care then on customer relations. Their strategy is one that focuses on both customer and employee engagement. Employee engagement….

    Show More

Popular Essays