When Animals Get Even: Theory of Mind

Nurture by Amanda Corlies Sandos

Santino, the male chimp from Furuvik Zoo in Sweden made news recently for plotting to attack the zoo visitors. Apparently, he likes to wait until the overlooks are free of visitors, then he gathers rocks and projectiles, and hides them near the overlooks under hay that he carries out from his indoor area. Next, he bides his time, pretending to be nonchalant, until someone gets on his last nerve. Then, he lets something fly in their direction with, I'm sure, very accurate aim and relishes their reactions. Of course, researchers and journalists want to talk about this behavior as if it's surprising news. Perhaps, because it demonstrates "Theory of Mind" or the ability to attribute mental states, beliefs, intents, desires, pretending, knowledge,  to oneself and others, and to understand that others beliefs may be different from your own. Something we humans like to consider our exclusive ability. But, if you think so, you'd be wrong. By displaying behaviors which take forethought, planning, and deception, animals often prove theory of mind pertains to them, as well.

This often surprises people, particularly those who have not made their living taking care of animals. It doesn't surprise me. I've seen chimps show not only planning and deception, but also empathy and caring, and not just for their troupe but also for me. I have a short story called "Bonding with Hondo," scheduled to publish soon in The Canary about this very experience, in fact. I posted it here several months ago when Hondo passed away. But, it's not only chimps who we can apply this theory to.

Charlie, the lowland gorilla, once gave me the best gift ever. When I worked at the zoo aviary, we often had to cut the bamboo that was growing all around the outside of the building. It was a veritable jungle that threatened to grow over everything in its path. Charlie and his brother Curtis happened to live right next door with their family, and they loved bamboo browse. So, on a day I had cuttings, I called my friend Cori, one of the gorilla keepers, and told her I was bringing over treats for the boys. Cori met me at the back gate and let me into the area behind the gorilla exhibit, where the animals and I were only separated by mesh grates. This was the area where the keepers often came throughout the day to perform training sessions with the gorillas.

 When I arrived, Cori and I fell into a conversation about something I don't remember. Curtis and Charlie sat beside us patiently waiting for their yummy snack. After a while, Charlie got up and moved away. Cori and I were so busy yacking we didn't pay attention, until the male gorilla, who was already starting to get a bit of silver on his back, returned with a whole bouquet of tiny wildflowers he had picked and gathered from around his exhibit. He offered me the flowers in trade for the bamboo. I cried and was so obviously thrilled by the gesture that Charlie learned this was the way to my heart. From that day forward, if there was anything blooming, even a weed, he would offer me those flowers in hopes I would trade it for food.

And, lest you think these behaviors apply only to Great Apes, you would be mistaken. Read about Wilma Lou Teal, the duck who once saved her mate from certain death, or the elephant I was visiting at the Brookfield Zoo when I was a kid who picked up the rock a boy threw at him and chucked it back hitting the boy right between the eyes. I had a hard time feeling bad for the boy who bled all over the place from the cut, but was otherwise fine. Or, the dolphin from Sea World who got fed up one day and started putting her trainers in time out when the fish wasn't cut to suit her. Perhaps soon, I'll write up that story here for your enjoyment. The point is, it happens all the time. Animals are way smarter than we like to give them credit for.  So perhaps offering them a bit more respect would be a good plan. Because if you don't treat them well, you never know what they might plot to get even.

Moms and Their Cute Kids

For all you moms out there who rush around 24/7 looking after your cute kids, I salute you. Thanks for all you do. Here are some other moms and their cute kids just for you. Happy Mother's Day!

Shanthi the Elephant Plays Harmonica

Over at The National Zoo, the keepers recently noticed a possibly musically inclined female Asian elephant. So they decided to give her some instruments and see what happens. Check out this awesome video. As it turns out, Shanthi is a composer, who enjoys performing for her keepers of her own volition without being prompted or rewarded with food. Shanthi even performs one of her original songs in the video. Awesome. Thanks to Susana Polo of The Mary Sue for turning me on to this.

Pierre, Lions, and Maurice Sendak

While reflecting on the stories of Maurice Sendak today, in light of the news of his passing, I realized just how much his stories have affected my life. It was Pierre: A Cautionary Tale which first started me asking my family if we could go see the lions at the zoo. I bugged them relentlessly until they took me to The National Zoo, most likely in hopes that it would shut me up. But, the lion in this story is also literally the very first thing I can remember trying to draw. So, thanks you Mr. Sendak for the inspiration and for turning me on to all the wild things of the world. Here, in all it's glory is my very favorite childhood story:

The Doggy Birthday Reprise

Cinco and Mercy

Yesterday was my doggy's eleventh birthday. Her name is Cinco in honor of the fateful holiday that I found her. Over at my other blog, Creative Antics, I wrote a little story about the day we met with some photos of Cinco and her late bosom buddy, Mercy, the Rottweiler who helped me rescue her. They were fast friends for many years until Mercy passed away from Cushing's Disease two years ago. I found more of the old pictures of these two together. So, I'm posting a few more images, and if you make the jump, you can find out how Mercy helped me rescue Cinco one fine Cinco de Mayo morning. I hope you enjoyed your holiday yesterday as much as we did.

She still sleeps like this

And like this, too.

They were the best of friends!

Happy Birthday Cinco! I love you!

Red Wolves and a Good Howling

Sometimes I am riding along on my typical day, and random things that I miss about the zoo will pop into my head. Mind you, there is a whole lot I don't miss, so I'm not sorry I moved forward with my life. But, occasionally, these things hit me and make me momentarily nostalgic for my old life. Today, it was the memory of the red wolves that lived in the exhibit next door to the aviary. Often times, in the early morning, when I was just stepping from my car at dawn to begin my day, the pack would greet me with a howl. Of course, they weren't actually greeting me, but that's how it felt. It always made all the hair on my body stand on end for a moment, and then I would smile and feel this kind of elation that I'm not sure I can put into words. Today, I found myself wishing for a good red wolf howl. They sound a bit different from a timber wolf. It's kind of like a cross between a timber and coyote. Anyway, here is a little video I found from the World Conservation Center in South Salem, New York, so you can hear what I mean. Hope you have a fantastic Friday!

Iceberg the White Orca Whale

The first recorded white adult male orca whale (Orcinus orca), also known as the killer whale, has been recorded off the coast of Russia. Given the name Iceberg by the group who discovered him, the Russian researchers left last week on another expedition to learn more about the elusive male. Though they are calling the whale an albino in the press, it does not appear certain if the whale has been determined as such yet. It could suffer from leucism as opposed to albinism. The two are similar and often one is mistaken for the other. Where leucism causes defective pigment cells so that patches of the skin, or sometimes all of it, are unable to make pigment. Albanism is a reduction in melanin only. I've been searching for more information and have yet to find any scientific discussion of this whale as an albino. Regardless, he is most definitely white, and he appears to be more than healthy. Making it to adulthood as a male orca takes some serious hootspa, as you might imagine. Anyway, there's more about this over at the Huffington Post, and be sure to check out this fist footage taken of Iceburg.