Why animals help each other - Ashley Ward
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Date: 2024-12-17
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Comments and reviews: 16
ted_ed
I once saw a squirrel under a tree next to the curb outside my house that was injured from falling from the tree or getting hit or something like that. He was laying there for so long I thought he was deceased and was so sad. As I got into my truck I noticed two other squirrels slowly go up to the injured squirrel and they then started jumping on his chest for couple of minutes. The injured squirrel was revived and ran away with the other two squirrels. I could not believe it.
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I once saw a squirrel under a tree next to the curb outside my house that was injured from falling from the tree or getting hit or something like that. He was laying there for so long I thought he was deceased and was so sad. As I got into my truck I noticed two other squirrels slowly go up to the injured squirrel and they then started jumping on his chest for couple of minutes. The injured squirrel was revived and ran away with the other two squirrels. I could not believe it.
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AsddAsdf-k8f
Orcas often prey on humpback whales cubs. So it's a matter of reciprocity for humpback whales to disrupt orca's hunting of other prey. Disrupting their hunts keep their numbers down or at least take away their time and energy and have them target humpback whales less. Or it could be even simpler. Hunting cries of orcas could make the humpback whales think they are hunting a humpback whale cub, so they go to its rescue.
And by the way, whales are extremely smart.
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Orcas often prey on humpback whales cubs. So it's a matter of reciprocity for humpback whales to disrupt orca's hunting of other prey. Disrupting their hunts keep their numbers down or at least take away their time and energy and have them target humpback whales less. Or it could be even simpler. Hunting cries of orcas could make the humpback whales think they are hunting a humpback whale cub, so they go to its rescue.
And by the way, whales are extremely smart.
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antagonizerr
But they DO know why. Humpbacks and seals often hunt the same food. Seals are smaller and faster and can circle the schools of food keeping them bunched up for the whale to swoop in and get a huge mouthful. It's literally a form of symbiotic mutualism with a heaping dose of reciprocal altruism. The whales, in helping the seals, are helping their own ability to gather food. This, scientists don't know why fallacy just don't float here.
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But they DO know why. Humpbacks and seals often hunt the same food. Seals are smaller and faster and can circle the schools of food keeping them bunched up for the whale to swoop in and get a huge mouthful. It's literally a form of symbiotic mutualism with a heaping dose of reciprocal altruism. The whales, in helping the seals, are helping their own ability to gather food. This, scientists don't know why fallacy just don't float here.
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Mr. WonderJames
This reminded me of the question why do babies cry when they hear other babies cry And similar questions like why do animals help humans Why do humans help animals Perhaps because it is our nature to have empathy for someone and do something about it. And I believe that was intentionally put into all creatures in one way or another.
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This reminded me of the question why do babies cry when they hear other babies cry And similar questions like why do animals help humans Why do humans help animals Perhaps because it is our nature to have empathy for someone and do something about it. And I believe that was intentionally put into all creatures in one way or another.
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EricCoop
As a 7-yo kid who lived near Rio Vista, CA, one of my fondest memories was following the saga of Humphrey, the Humpback. He got lost in the Delta again in the 1990s. I hope he's doing well now. Humpbacks are known for their kindness. That's why a Humpback gave Marlin and Dory a ride to Australia in Finding Nemo.
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As a 7-yo kid who lived near Rio Vista, CA, one of my fondest memories was following the saga of Humphrey, the Humpback. He got lost in the Delta again in the 1990s. I hope he's doing well now. Humpbacks are known for their kindness. That's why a Humpback gave Marlin and Dory a ride to Australia in Finding Nemo.
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mediumfast
It's totally possible in the case of the whales that it simply makes them feel good. It might trigger the part of their brain that rewards them for caring for and protecting their own young. The same way humans feel good about helping a stranger change a tire or rescue an animal in danger.
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It's totally possible in the case of the whales that it simply makes them feel good. It might trigger the part of their brain that rewards them for caring for and protecting their own young. The same way humans feel good about helping a stranger change a tire or rescue an animal in danger.
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kthfox
Lovely insight on the evolution of kindness. Just remember that Reciprocal Altruism refers to how the psychological trait evolved over time, not active planning ahead on the animals part. We evolved kindness the same way. Being liked made you more protected so we evolved to be likable.
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Lovely insight on the evolution of kindness. Just remember that Reciprocal Altruism refers to how the psychological trait evolved over time, not active planning ahead on the animals part. We evolved kindness the same way. Being liked made you more protected so we evolved to be likable.
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jer103
The whales probably hear a skirmish between Orcas and Seals, then goes to break it up (water does transfer sound 4x better than air). This is kind of like a teacher breaking up a fight at school. (The teacher has to hear about it from another student, or hear the fight happening)
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The whales probably hear a skirmish between Orcas and Seals, then goes to break it up (water does transfer sound 4x better than air). This is kind of like a teacher breaking up a fight at school. (The teacher has to hear about it from another student, or hear the fight happening)
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Royce16727
Maybe But the absence of evidence to the contrary is not conclusive. I like the video, but I think it's important to point out that just because you don't know how something is adapted doesn't mean that the behavior is therefore altruistic.
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Maybe But the absence of evidence to the contrary is not conclusive. I like the video, but I think it's important to point out that just because you don't know how something is adapted doesn't mean that the behavior is therefore altruistic.
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rl9217
Why do Humpback Whales protect other species from Orcas
Well, we have two leading theories. The first is that they’re just really nice guys. The second is that they just really hate Orcas. There’s a chance that both theories are correct.
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Why do Humpback Whales protect other species from Orcas
Well, we have two leading theories. The first is that they’re just really nice guys. The second is that they just really hate Orcas. There’s a chance that both theories are correct.
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QuintenWhyte
The phrase 'survival of the fittest' is often incorrectly attributed to Darwin.
In fact, it was coined by the philosopher Herbert Spencer in response to reading Origin of Species five years after the first edition was published.
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The phrase 'survival of the fittest' is often incorrectly attributed to Darwin.
In fact, it was coined by the philosopher Herbert Spencer in response to reading Origin of Species five years after the first edition was published.
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kktallman6257
Well It makes sense from a certain perspective if we can assume that without this behavior, certain predators might overhunt prey populations, especially if (like orcas) they're the kind to kill things for fun.
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Well It makes sense from a certain perspective if we can assume that without this behavior, certain predators might overhunt prey populations, especially if (like orcas) they're the kind to kill things for fun.
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Elpablo3385
I think the whales are saving the prey from orcas to give them less opportunity to feed and survive later on as they are also known to hunt young humpback whales in the end helping themselves.
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I think the whales are saving the prey from orcas to give them less opportunity to feed and survive later on as they are also known to hunt young humpback whales in the end helping themselves.
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avevee9708
Another interpretation is that Humpbacks beef with orcas because orcas target their babies. They literally go out of their way to inconvenience orcas because orcas are baby killing jerks
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Another interpretation is that Humpbacks beef with orcas because orcas target their babies. They literally go out of their way to inconvenience orcas because orcas are baby killing jerks
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ted_ed
What if whales are bragging to potential mates about how they threw hands with four orcas once and we just don't know because we can't understand them
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What if whales are bragging to potential mates about how they threw hands with four orcas once and we just don't know because we can't understand them
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HibHab69
Survival of the fittest was NOT pioneered by Charles Darwin. He argued against it because it was termed by Herbert Spencer.
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Survival of the fittest was NOT pioneered by Charles Darwin. He argued against it because it was termed by Herbert Spencer.
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