NanK wrote:
A GOOGLE search may direct you to the latest research where scientists
have actually taught flies to follow a particular flight pattern in
controlled experiments! And did you know that bees remove the legs on a
fellow worker bee that habitually returns "drunk" on fermented nector.

Perhaps we should follow a similar approach with drunk drivers. On the
first offense, take away their cars. On the second offense, remove their
legs so they can't operate the pedals.


If you watch Animal Planet and Discovery, you have learned about the
complexity of elephants, dolphins, wolves, and many other animals and
insects. Recently, I saw a clip where an unhappy, aquarium-housed
octopus was given a Duplo (jumbo toy blocks) structure with
window-shaped holes, and the animal immediately perked up and
investigated the structure and its openings.

Most animals are naturally curious. It benefits their survival to
explore their environment as thoroughly as possible.


Wild birds have demonstrated uncanny abilities to figure out puzzles in
order to obtain a tasty morsel. Parrots can watch you unlock a cage,
and repeat your action. No training, no conditioning -- just brain power.

That's called 'learning through imitating', something parrots are
particularly good at. I've seen pretty clever horses do it too. But if
they could figure out on their own how to unlock a cage, that would be
an entirely different story.


Many bored, lonely, anxious pets (birds, rats, cats, dogs, horses) and
zoo animals, i.e., pandas, marsupials, monkeys, develop behavior
problems when confined in inappropriate conditions.

Yes. It's been proven that higher animals can actually experience
boredom and stress when their brains are not sufficiently stimulated.


We assume a whole lot more than we should about the animals with whom we
share this planet.

Wait a minute there hippie, this isn't just a "planet". It's an entire
WORLD, and one of a kind at that. And we don't share it. Humans OWN it.
We didn't rise to the top of the food chain by putting the interests of
competing species on the same level as ours. A black bear isn't going to
respect *your* rights if it's hungry or if you happen to be in it's
territory near its cubs.


Perhaps our fish ARE capable of learning,
recognition, and feelings.

Fish are capable of learning, certainly. Recognition, maybe or maybe
not. I'd need to see some experiments done on that. I know that
amphibians and reptiles can often differentiate the appearance of their
owner from other people, but fish in the store seem to do that "fishy
dance" no matter who shows up in front of their tank.

- Logic316



"A liberal is a conservative who's been arrested. A conservative is a
liberal who's been mugged."
-- Wendy Kaminer