Yesterday, we almost lost a lamb - he got stuck in the mud and couldn't get out. His mom, in a typical sheep fashion, came close to him a few times, called him and walked away, quite sure that he will follow. You see, she just didn't understand that he can't and that he's about to die. Animals generally can't put themselves in someone else's shoes.
On the other hand - if she did, what good that would do her? She ain't got no hands, she can't grab him and pull him out. She can't put some boards on the mud to walk over to him. Basically, had she understood what's going on, her only options would be to run back and forth nearby and watch him drowning or drown with him without any chance to help him anyway.
Now, do we know how to use our hands because we have highly developed brains or have we developed those brains because we happened to have hands with opposable thumbs, so the brains can actually be of any use?
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Hi Leon,
Sheep might not be able to go to the rescue but there are many accounts of elephants going to incredible lengths to save a youngster in distress and elephants working together not just the mum. Also mothers staying with a dead calf for a day or two before finally giving up. YOu'll read about it in the book I recommended, When Elephants Weep. By the way, thanks for your own book recommendation, which I look forward to reading.
Ah, but the elephants do have a "hand", don't they? Just proves my theory - the nature is wise, it only gives wisdom to understand things to the creatures who can actually use it :)
When Elephants Weep is on my reading list, thanks.
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