Strange animal story N/A

I saw that too. Really something to see the hippo mouth the entire head of the impala several times. Real gentle.

Here's one I witnessed: my older brother and I were out hiking in the nearby woods. We're coming downill toward a flowing creek when we hear a kitten in distress. I spot the kitten, he's on a half submerged log in the middle of the creek. We're getting closer to the creek when my brother yells out there is a large pit bull charging towards the kitten. We figure the dog will make mince meat outta the kitten.

The dog charges into the water, knocks the kitten off the log and into the water when he gently picks up the kitten and carries him up and over the bank to a dry spot in the grass. He then nuzzles down with the kitten and starts to lick/clean him. After awhile the kitten follows the dog back up the hill towards some homes.
 
My aunt and uncle had a female German Shepherd and a female cat. The cat ended up having a litter of kittens. Both the cat and the dog would stand guard over the kittens. I someone they didn't know tried to get close, both of them would get aggressive towards the person. When the mother cat wanted to move the kittens somewhere else, she would pick a kitten up in her mouth and take it to the new location. The German Shepherd would pick up the next kitten in her mouth and follow the cat to the new "nursery". They would both continue to do this until all the kittens were relocated. We used to watch this in amazement. Needless to say, nobody messed with the kittens.
 
I'm curious. What do these acts say about altruism being a human phenomenon? It seems to me that altruistic acts can only benifit an organism in the long term. Do these types of acts indicate some type of awareness that transcends a purely biological function. Interesting. :dunno:
 
Frank Browne said:
I'm curious. What do these acts say about altruism being a human phenomenon? It seems to me that altruistic acts can only benifit an organism in the long term. Do these types of acts indicate some type of awareness that transcends a purely biological function. Interesting. :dunno:
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You presume the altruistic act to be altruistic. How to establish that the animal was not acting out of self preservation?
 
Richard said:
You presume the altruistic act to be altruistic. How to establish that the animal was not acting out of self preservation?
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Not at all. I was curious how such behavour as a hippo taking a gravely wounded impala's head into it's mouth and nuzzling it could be in the best interest of the hippo.
 
Frank Browne said:
Not at all. I was curious how such behavour as a hippo taking a gravely wounded impala's head into it's mouth and nuzzling it could be in the best interest of the hippo.
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I was simply wanting to provide a counterpoint...to stimulate more thought on this. WRT the hippo, perhaps the tactic of denying food to his enemy the croc? Crocs and hippos are enemies, aren't they?

I don't know...it's an interesting subject fer sure.
 
Richard said:
I was simply wanting to provide a counterpoint...to stimulate more thought on this. WRT the hippo, perhaps the tactic of denying food to his enemy the croc? Crocs and hippos are enemies, aren't they?
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My enemy's enemy is my friend?
 
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