AI: Animal Intelligence
- Julie Maxey-Allison | 10th Street
Animals, intelligent and instinctual, have the know how to help out and communicate with each other and us. Numerous symbiotic relationships have been established between animals and animals and insects and birds. For mutual protection ostriches and zebras partner up. So both stay safe zebras, who have excellent eyesight, are the seeing-eye zebras in this duo with the ostriches providing their amazing sense of smell able to sniff out danger. A fanciful example in literature: Charlotte, the spider of Charlotte’s Web, weaves her magic web of words to save the life of her pig friend Wilber.
Cooperation, though less dramatic, occurs underwater too. Moray eels, as well as other fish whose teeth need cleaning, work a trade. The eels allow Cleaner Wrasses to safely wade into their mouths to do just that—clean their teeth. The cleaners devour the parasites on the teeth and in turn get a free meal without becoming one.
For us humans, there are goats, cats, small and large, horses, parrots, dolphins or other species (who may understand many of our words and gestures) important as our good companions, skillful therapy aides, performers, entertainers and guardians.
While all animals have a notable part to play in our lives and the life of our planet, so far dogs have been the most helpful. Breeds perfected for specialized jobs work as retrievers, hunters, herders and serve as searchers and rescuers at times of distress and disasters.Whatever the breed mix, trained dogs can be crack sleuths able to spot illegal trafficking of animals and/or drugs, guards and protectors.
Dogs stand guard in office buildings, palaces, ranches, houses. Dogs guard people—and babies. Although, clearly, a dog knows that a baby is a baby, not a puppy, some seriously take on the responsible role of protecting an infant from any perceived danger. Dogs may not be our only “best friend” animal, but they are surely one of the more willing.