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[Hondaman43]

Intelligent Animals

Evidence shows that animals are intelligent because some can be taught to do tricks, others can overcome obstacles using problem solving skills, and some can even communicate vocally with humans. There have been many studies done on animals to see what their brains are capable of. The results should convince people to believe that
animals are intelligent creatures.

First, some animals are taught to do tricks. A study was done on dolphins to see what they are able to accomplish. The trainers taught them to do a very diverse variety of tricks. They set up a language consisting of arm movements that told the dolphins what tricks to do. After much training, the trainers could make up a new order of tricks and the dolphins were able to do them in that order on their first try! If animal were just unintelligent creatures then how could they accomplish something like that?

Another example is that some animals can overcome obstacles using problem solving skills. This was seen in a study done on a New Caledonian crow. For the test a small basket of meat was put in a test tube with a bent piece of wire shaped like a hook attached to the basket. The crow had never seen a piece of wire like that before, but the crow picked up the basket by the wire hook and took out the basket. For the second test everything was the same except that the piece of wire was straight instead of hook shaped. When they let the crow in, the crow flew over and bent the wire into a hook shape with its beak and took the basket out of the test tube. That result was completely unexpected. This is even more evidence that animals are intelligent.

The last example is that some animals can communicate with humans vocally. This is seen in a study done on an African gray parrot named Alex. After being taught for thirty years, Alex had a very wide vocabulary. He would also make up his own words. His trainer said that Alex thought that apples tasted like bananas, but looked like cherries, so Alex called them “ban-erries.” How could something thoughtless have the thinking capacity to make up its own words?

In conclusion, animals are intelligent. Some people might say that animals are like machines that just react to things. Others might say that animals have no feelings. If animals really were like that, would they be able to do things like learn to do tricks or talk to humans? That is why people should believe that animals are intelligent. First, because they can be taught to do tricks, second, they can overcome obstacles, and last, because some animals can talk to humans.

[knightofalbion]

A very interesting posting. Thank you.

I thought you might like to see this...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-458976/can-animals-really-love-others.html

[knightofalbion]

This link is also very interesting and thought-provoking...

NB: Knight of Albion says :- I am well aware that some of the more gentle souls among us get upset at pictures of animals suffering and in distress. I give fair warning to all such, there is a picture in this link which is heart-rending, so...

But, what a picture. Love, tenderness and sorrow...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1223227/Is-haunting-picture-proof-chimps-really-DO-grieve.html

[Gary99]

A friend of mine told me he was locked out of the house, and managed to train his dog (through the door) to jump and hit the handle to open the door...how great is that???

[invitelockerz]

Thanks for your good post.

Most Intelligent Animals on Earth

* Great apes (including Humans)
* New World monkeys
* Dolphin & Whales
* Dogs
* Octopi
* Birds, specifically Ravens and Crows.
* Horses