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Knowing Without Question How Smart Animals Are...

Written by PETA

Posted 12-31-2007

25 Comments

Animals are pretty impressive. Most of them are faster than us humans. Many of them are stronger. And now we see that some are even smarter than some of us.This isn’t a new story, but it just keeps floating around and has finally made its way to my inbox. Researchers in Japan have showed that chimpanzees can outdo college kids with some counting and memory games. Watch some of the videos below (and then scour YouTube for more). Along a related note here’s a nice clip of a crow using a tool. Chimpanzee

vs.Human

For those who like to reader in the audience, here’s a great piece from the Sunday New York Times Magazine about “the two greatest nonhuman linguists of our day: Washoe, the sign-language-wielding chimpanzee with an intense footwear fetish; and Alex, the wildly outspoken parrot.” It all begs the question, what are we going to do in 2008 knowing now without question how smart animals are?- Joel

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shelters, research, resolutions, animal, joel bartlett, danzig

Recent Comments

Karen commented:

7-20-2008 4:34 AM

I definitely think animals aren't smarter than humans. We're so smart we know how smart other animals are how to make medicines how to cook read etc. We even understand some of other animals' language!
Jan H commented:

6-27-2008 3:40 PM

years ago I remember reading about the different animals intelligence and it was laid out from smartest to least. I have looked for quite a while which is how I found this sightand can find nothing yet. any suggestions?? thanks
Kurt K commented:

1-10-2008 11:55 AM

Your right animals never engage in any kind of cruelty towards other animals because they all live in such harmony with each other. Bull! Dominant males will kill the offspring of other males to make sure their genes are passed on. Much like we humans go to war to make sure our way of living and culture is passed on. Animals do not consider consequenses of their actions towards other animals if they did they would understand that killing an animal would cause grief for the family of that animals. But they don't care about that shit they want to survive by any means necessary. Elephants kill Rhino's Lion kill Hyeinas domesticated cats kill everything they is smaller than they are not for food but for sport. They will kill a bird or mouse even if they just have eaten.
Maya, C.V.T. commented:

1-4-2008 2:49 PM

Well said by so many here and thanks Michele!! As we are the only animals that do not contribute to the ecosystem we should have some humility before the creatures who keep our planet liveable!
Lisamarie commented:

1-3-2008 8:44 PM

Whoever posted the comment saying humans are smarter "by a long shot" I see what you're thinking but you're thinking all wrong. Like other people have commented why would an animal need a computer? And why do we need it? Because we made the world so much more complicated than it needed to be. I find that animals are so much more happy with what they are given. A simple toy will entertain a cat and not because he's "stupid" but just because he's happy and doesn't constantly need something hitech to make him feel good. I think humans measure intelligence completely wrong. Like wooow we made cars that pollute our environments and kills animals and people. Or wooow we made huge factories that destroy our one planet that we share with many other species of plants and animals. Did we ask any of them if it was okay if we polluted their world or destroyed their habitats? No one asked me either but I'm just saying why is intelligence based on industry and the like? I think I'd be much happier living like the Native Americans who appreciated the sacrafice of the buffalo they ate and lived a natural life. They seemed happy without computers.
rose commented:

1-3-2008 8:37 PM

i know this is very random but on some of my other posts people start yelling and getting out of hand. so I guess what I'm saying is thanks for staying cool. P.S. I never thought about it like that! great point ana and susannah
Mystique Makepeace commented:

1-3-2008 4:44 PM

Dear George Yes I agree. But I don't think this kind of testing was DANGEROUS like forcefeeding an animal toxic chemicals and spraying their eyes with perfume sometimes we have to perform tests with animals to learn more about them that's what zoology is all about. We need to know everything we can about animals so people can protect them. And in this kind of testing the tests are trying to learn about the animals THEMSELVES for science they're not just being exploited by a selfish company.
Ana commented:

1-3-2008 4:07 PM

rose You would never confuse my attempts at drawing with the works of Leonardo da Vinci but because I am not an artist of that caliber does that make me an inferior human being? Of course not. I do excell at doing research and writing theses. Do all humans know how to do research and how to write a dissertation and then defend it? No but I do know. My point is that individuals have different strengths and talents but that doesn't determine superiority or inferiority. Amongst us humans no one is really equal everyone is really different. Why does my cat need to attend postgraduate school? He doesn't but I wanted to so I did go. But he does jump really high and lands from all appearances so easily. He plays and jumps and loves to curl up in my lap and purr. The way he walks atop a fence with such finesse and agility is a sight to behold. I also would like to possess his keen eyesight and hearing. I feel a need to vote as a responsible citizen my cat does not need to vote anymore than a monor child has to. My cat wakes up happy to be alive and enjoy nature humans fret over their looks weight and age. So much stress! My cat is more intelligent in that he enjoys the moment a lesson to be learned in life by us all. My cat fulfills his life as a cat and that is enough.
Susannah S commented:

1-3-2008 12:12 PM

"some person made the computer you are using right now." That's true Rose but what on earth would a crow DO with a computer? Each species adapts to the circumstances they find themselves living with. Crows may not be able to think binary but I bet they can find their way across vast stretches of land better than I can. They can build a fast energyefficient home that doesn't ruin the environment for everyone else. We humans think that because the other animals don't share our PRIORITIES that they're not as smart as we are. Maybe not not in OUR way. But they have their own priorities and they take care of those pretty well better in fact than we take care of ours. They don't need to invent all sorts of gizmos and gadgets and technology. Maybe it's just their needs that are simpler not their intelligence. Maybe they're as smart as we are only in a very different way?
George commented:

1-3-2008 12:01 PM

Doesn't this just show animal testing though?

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