Animal Emotions

Do animals think and feel?

Tool use in animals: Mammals, birds, and other animals make and use tools and do other "surprising" things

We're not the only animals who make and use tools

Many animals use tools (see also). Recently someone suggested this video and it is a good one. There are many surprises when we pay attention to what animals are able to do and feel (see also) and we should always keep our eyes open to new possibilities so that we come to understand animals for who they are. Many examples are provided in The Animal Manifesto, and a wonderful example of complex patterns of play has recently been noted in gorillas. We still have a lot to learn about animal intelligence, emotions, and moral behavior and this information will surely open our eyes to how we need to take the time to study animals in conditions that allow them to display their full behavioral repertoire and show us how they can adapt to many different social and nonsocial situations. We must also pay attention to the details of what they do because superficial studies don't capture the richness of their lives and the subtle nuances with which they finesse their social interactions. 

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