Olga Shavrina 🌱’s Post

🐾 Animal Behavior Deep Dive 🐾 Recent studies in animal behavior have unveiled fascinating insights into the complex lives of various species: Chimpanzee Urination Synchrony Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered that the urge to urinate can be socially influenced among chimpanzees, similar to contagious yawning or laughter. Over 600 hours of observation of 20 captive chimpanzees revealed that lower-ranking individuals are more likely to urinate after observing higher-ranking members do so. This behavior suggests a deep-rooted evolutionary mechanism aimed at enhancing social cohesion within groups.  Source: The Times and The Sunday Times Deciphering Animal Communication with AI The Earth Species Project, in collaboration with researchers at McGill University, is leveraging advanced AI tools to decode animal communications. By analyzing vocalizations from species such as zebra finches, Hawaiian crows, and St. Lawrence beluga whales, the project aims to develop rudimentary dictionaries to facilitate better understanding and protection of these animals. This initiative holds promise for transforming interspecies communication and promoting environmental conservation.  Source: AP News These developments not only deepen our understanding of animal behavior but also highlight the intricate social structures and communication methods that many species possess. Such insights are crucial for informing conservation efforts and fostering a greater appreciation for the complexities of animal societies. #AnimalBehavior #WildlifeResearch #Conservation #AIInScience

I do believe many animals are far more aware and intelligent than previously thought. For example, bees play by rolling wooden balls — apparently for fun. The cleaner wrasse fish appears to recognize its own visage in an underwater mirror. Octopuses seem to react to anesthetic drugs and will avoid settings where they likely experienced past pain. All three of these discoveries came in the last five years — indications that the more scientists test animals, the more they find that many species may have inner lives and be sentient. A surprising range of creatures have shown evidence of conscious thought or experience, including insects, fish and some crustaceans. That has prompted a group of top researchers on animal cognition to publish a new pronouncement that they hope will transform how scientists and society view — and care — for animals. Nearly 40 researchers signed “The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness,” which was first presented at a conference at New York University on Friday morning. It marks a pivotal moment, as a flood of research on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be treated. Interesting New Findings Article Here https://lnkd.in/gcd4jPJa #intelligence #animal #consciousness

🌟 The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness: Unveiling the Minds of Our Fellow Creatures 🌟 The science is in! There's strong support for attributing conscious experiences to other mammals and birds, with growing evidence suggesting that many vertebrates (like reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) and some invertebrates (including cephalopods, decapods, and even insects) may also possess consciousness. Key Insights: 1. Consciousness in Mammals & Birds: Widely accepted by the scientific community. 2. Possibility in Other Animals: Empirical evidence points to potential consciousness in all vertebrates and select invertebrates. 3. Ethical Responsibility: When consciousness is a realistic possibility, we must consider welfare risks and use evidence to inform our actions. Mind-Blowing Examples: 🐝 Bees at Play: Research from 2022 reveals that bumblebees roll wooden balls for fun, exhibiting play behavior similar to mammals. This behavior is intrinsically rewarding and occurs when bees are relaxed. 💤 Fruit Flies’ Sleep: Studies show that fruit flies have active and quiet sleep stages, akin to human REM and non-REM sleep. Social isolation disrupts their sleep patterns, highlighting the importance of social interaction. As we uncover more about animal consciousness, it becomes crucial to acknowledge and respect the experiences of these incredible creatures. Let's stay informed and compassionate in our decisions affecting animal welfare. Thanks, Marco Adda for sharing this! https://lnkd.in/gh5YP_Wr #AnimalConsciousness #EthicalScience #AnimalWelfare #ScientificDiscovery #Biodiversity #AnimalBehavior #EmpathyInAction

Yes! But then some of us have known this for years. Consciousness and sentient are our friends of a different king/queendom. Bees play by rolling wooden balls — apparently for fun. The cleaner wrasse fish appears to recognize its own visage in an underwater mirror. Octopuses seem to react to anesthetic drugs and will avoid settings where they likely experienced past pain.  All three of these discoveries came in the last five years — indications that the more scientists test animals, the more they find that many species may have inner lives and be sentient. A surprising range of creatures have shown evidence of conscious thought or experience, including insects, fish and some crustaceans. That has prompted a group of top researchers on animal cognition to publish a new pronouncement that they hope will transform how scientists and society view — and care — for animals. Nearly 40 researchers signed “The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness,” which was first presented at a conference at New York University on Friday morning. It marks a pivotal moment, as a flood of research on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be treated. The declaration says there is “strong scientific support” that birds and mammals have conscious experience, and a “realistic possibility” of consciousness for all vertebrates — including reptiles, amphibians and fish. That possibility extends to many creatures without backbones, it adds, such as insects, decapod crustaceans (including crabs and lobsters) and cephalopod mollusks, like squid, octopus and cuttlefish. “When there is a realistic possibility of conscious experience in an animal, it is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that animal,” the declaration says. “We should consider welfare risks and use the evidence to inform our responses to these risks.” . . read on. #consciousness #animalconsciousness #sentient #buddhism #mindfulness #compassion #animals #consciousexperience #animalcognition

Do animals possess consciousness? Researchers, including Prof. Lars Chittka and Prof. Jonathan Birch, are now challenging old views, showing animals (such as bees) can exhibit complex behaviors indicative of consciousness. This shift in thinking could transform our understanding of animal minds, leading to renewed calls for more research on the subject. 🐝💭 #animalminds #bees #science #animalwelfare #animalethics #report #research #data

Another interesting article about research into animal consciousness. Some of these examples are pretty mind-blowing, even to me (e.g., a fish that recognizes itself in the mirror?!), and I'm pretty accepting of the premise that most animals have more awareness/consciousness than humans give them credit for. It's way past time that we re-evaluate the way we co-exist with animals. https://lnkd.in/eudydg73 #animalconsciousness #animalwelfare #bethechange

What if the tables have turned, and it's not humans who’ve tamed the wild, but the animals themselves leading the charge of domestication? This captivating concept challenges traditional views and sparks intriguing discussions among biologists. Dive into the fascinating idea that certain animals played a pivotal role in their own domestication process. From natural selection to evolving alongside humans, these insights not only reshape our understanding of animal behavior but also highlight the serendipitous bond between species. Prepare to look at your furry friends in a whole new light! 🐾✨ #AnimalDomestication #BiologyFacts #WildlifeInsight #HumanAnimalBond #NatureLovers #EvolutionaryTheory #PetScience #AnimalBehavior #MindBlowingFacts #EcoAwareness

Charles Darwin enjoys a near god-like status among scientists for his theory of evolution. But his ideas that animals are conscious in the same way humans are have long been shunned. Until now. "There is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their ability to feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery," Darwin wrote. But his suggestion that animals think and feel was seen as scientific heresy among many, if not most animal behaviour experts. Attributing consciousness to animals based on their responses was seen as a cardinal sin. The argument went that projecting human traits, feelings, and behaviours onto animals had no scientific basis and there was no way of testing what goes on in animals’ minds. But if new evidence emerges of animals’ abilities to feel and process what is going on around them, could that mean they are, in fact, conscious? We now know that bees can count, recognise human faces and learn how to use tools. Prof Lars Chittka of Queen Mary University of London has worked on many of the major studies of bee intelligence. "If bees are that intelligent, maybe they can think and feel something, which are the building blocks of consciousness," he says. Prof Chittka’s experiments showed that bees would modify their behaviour following a traumatic incident and seemed to be able to play, rolling small wooden balls, which he says they appeared to enjoy as an activity. These results have persuaded one of the most influential and respected scientists in animal research to make this strong, stark and contentious statement: "Given all the evidence that is on the table, it is quite likely that bees are conscious," he said. It isn't just bees. Many say that it is now time to think again, with the emergence of new evidence they say marks a "sea change" in thinking on the science of animal consciousness. They include Prof Jonathan Birch of the London School of Economics. "We have researchers from different fields starting to dare to ask questions about animal consciousness and explicitly think about how their research might be relevant to those questions," says Prof Birch. https://lnkd.in/gX3i2_Jk

In such good company, proud to have signed: "The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness Which animals have the capacity for conscious experience? While much uncertainty remains, some points of wide agreement have emerged. First, there is strong scientific support for attributions of conscious experience to other mammals and to birds. Second, the empirical evidence indicates at least a realistic possibility of conscious experience in all vertebrates (including reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) and many invertebrates (including, at minimum, cephalopod mollusks, decapod crustaceans, and insects). Third, when there is a realistic possibility of conscious experience in an animal, it is irresponsible to ignore that possibility in decisions affecting that animal. We should consider welfare risks and use the evidence to inform our responses to these risks." #NewYorkDeclaration #animalconsciousness https://lnkd.in/eq9UM-SX

Understanding Sensory Perception: How Animals Navigate Their World Explore the fascinating ways animals perceive their environment through scent, sound, and movement. We dive into the sensory profiles that guide their experiences and how we can enhance our training methods to align with these instincts. #AnimalBehavior #SensoryPerception #TrainingTechniques #AnimalPsychology #UnderstandingAnimals #NatureExploration #WildlifeResearch #SensoryAwareness #BehaviorAnalysis #PetTraining