2011 seems to have been an exciting year for research in animal behaviour and welfare.
image from http://www.chickencare.net/
More studies emerged that found evidence of empathy in nonhuman species. Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to feel his or her emotions. Scientists in Britain, cited by the Telegraph, found that when mother hens see their chicks experience something scary (having their feathers ruffled with puffs of air), they display the same signs of distress as the little chicks themselves. Meanwhile, a research group from the University of Chicago found that rats not only get “infected” by a trapped cagemate’s anxiety, but also gradually learn how to free their friend, with no training at all, and will choose to open his door rather than eat chocolate. (more…)
Owen and Mzee are a hippopotamus and a tortoise, respectively, that became the subject of much media attention after forming a unique bond of friendship.
A baby hippopotamus, Owen, was orphaned in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya near Malindi during the Indian Ocean earthquake on December 26, 2004. The baby hippo, weighing 600 pounds (270 kg), was stranded on a large rock not far from shore. He was finally rescued during a day long effort by nearly 1,000 villagers using shark nets.
Owen was taken to Haller Park, a restored limestone quarry near Mombasa. He was released into a large wooded penned-in area that included a pond and a co-inhabitant − a 700-pound (320 kg), 130-year-old Aldabran tortoise named Mzee (Swahili for “wise old man”).
Owen immediately bonded to Mzee and would crouch behind him. However, Mzee initially resisted Owen’s overtures. Over time, the old tortoise came to accept the young hippo, who began to mimic his adoptive parent. Gradually, Mzee taught Owen what to eat and where to sleep.
In the first year, the two became inseparable companions who ate, slept, swam, and played together. Owen often played with the old tortoise by jumping on Mzee’s back, scratching the old tortoise on the neck, and in many other ways. They surprised scientists with the strength of what appeared to be a genuine bond, as well as with the unique vocal communication that developed between them.
Now they have a whole website and books dedicated to their special friendship. If you are interested in learning more about Owen and Mzee, click here.
Christian was a lion cub born in to a life of captivity and sold to the exclusive department store Harrods, for sale in their pet department back in 1969! John Rendall and Ace Bourke purchased him and what happened next became a beautiful story of friendship that ultimately saw Christian return to his rightful place in the wilds of Africa.
At first he lived with John and Ace in their London home and went to work with them at their furniture store but they soon came to realise that he was getting too big and growing to love him, they now wanted a better- more natural life for Christian!
Luckily for Christian, Virginia McKenna (founder of Bornfree) happened to visit their furniture store and suggested that Christian go to live with conservationist George Adamson in Kenya, where he could hopefully be rehabilitated back in to the wild.
Christian went to Africa to start a new life and joined 2 other rescued lions, Boy and Katania, forming a close bond with the older lion, Boy. When Boy later died Christian sat by his grave for days.
In 1972, Rendall and Bourke went back to visit Christian after a year apart. They were prepared for him not to remember them at all. What happened that day was caught on film and with the explosion of video sharing became the most watched video on Youtube in 2008. The film shows the lion at first cautiously approach and then quickly leap playfully onto the two men, standing on his hind legs and wrapping his front legs around their shoulders, nuzzling their faces. The documentary also shows the female lions, Mona and Lisa, welcoming the two men.
Rendall and Bourke returned to see Christian again in 1973. They had been told not to bother coming because Christian hadn’t returned to the reserve for 9 months and they probably wouldn’t see him. As fate would have it, Christian returned to the reserve the day before their arrival and they were reunited for a final time.
‘We called him and he stood up and started to walk towards us very slowly. Then, as if he had become convinced it was us, he ran towards us, threw himself on to us, knocked us over, knocked George over and hugged us, like he used to, with his paws on our shoulders.’
This renunion lasted all night with the men drinking beer and Christian lounging around and playing with them. The next day he left and never returned to the reserve.
If you are interested in reading more about Christian’s life, there are several films, biographies and even a children’s book about this incredible true story, demonstrating the power of friendship and importance of animal conservation.
