Don’t we tend to assume farm animals to be one of, if not the most stupid creatures in the animal kingdom, since they are most likely to end up as breakfast, lunch and dinner for us humans? Well, don’t belittle these animals as the video below will illustrate what they are capable of. Look out for the high IQ hens and the acrobatic heroics of the pigs in the video, suddenly “Chicken little” and “Babe” doesn’t appear so fictional anymore.
If you detect some form of moralistic slant on the video, well, not to worry, after all it was produced by the Compassion in World Farming Organization. FYI, I am in no way advocating anyone to go become a vegetarian/vegan… I am a happy carnivore and nothing can come between me and my meat!
For me, what’s more interesting about this video is that it highlights the notion of duality in the interpretation of animal behaviours. “Are animals capable of intelligent behaviour?” That is, “Do they actually know what they are doing?” Well, according to the Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, an instinctive behaviour will be selected if it serves the best interest of the animal, in a particular environment or context. However, what then is the selective value that would enable a pig to swim and rescue an entirely different species?
Gadagkar R. actually proposes that intelligence is possible in animals. However, there is a prerequisite before animals can possess such “intelligence”. Animals have to first have “instinctive behaviour before it can have any flexible, intelligent behaviour”. Therefore, it can be said that intelligence evolved from instinct.
Well, as I mentioned before, I will not be forgoing my meat. But, before I pop a wanton into my mouth, maybe I'll think, hmm… perhaps the pork came from a smart pig! Hopefully, some of its intelligence will rub onto me ;-)
References:
Gadagkar R., “Observational Study of Animal Behaviour – From Instinct to Intelligence”, Current Science 68, 2 (January 25 1995), pp. 185-196
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instinct
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYLYgpPGZIk