Animals Are Way Smarter Than We Think

Since childhood, I firmly believe that animals are way smarter than we think. And that we human beings, as a species, are just being too arrogant. Scientific evidence proves that our planet is not the epicenter of the solar system, but today it also shows that we are not the only center of intelligence. But what are considered levels of intelligence? How and who defines them? Do you think that some animals are way smarter than some people? Throughout my experiences, I do believe so. Just because animals cannot speak or read, for instance, does not automatically indicate that they cannot think or feel. When comparing one species of animals to another, or even to humans, we can see different degrees of intelligence. So, we are deceiving ourselves into thinking that, for thousands of years we are more intelligent than the rest of the animal kingdom. And that, despite growing evidence these days to the opposite. Of course, I do not deny that we, human animals, are smart when it comes to doing what needs to be done to survive. But other species may be way smarter than we are, believe or think. Intelligence is Relative Numerous animals have exceptional brains, but most people purely misunderstand many of their abilities. There are now facts that crows, dogs, octopuses or koalas, just to name a few, reveal superior intelligence. It is widespread truth in the animal kingdom. In some cases, animals possess greater reasoning faculties than any human being. So, some of them are probably way smarter. And some of their actions or behaviors cannot merely be considered instinct. When we look at various animals, we often cannot do what they do. Sometimes, the way they act or the things they do are very complicated, like a bat flying in the dark. These creatures can capture flying insects in midair directly with echolocation. So, it does not only takes instinct but a lot of brainpower to realize such feat. Yet we do not pay attention to these kinds of things because we think it is irrelevant. Most people do not evaluate the skills of animals, but rather compare them to ours in term of intelligence. As long as they cannot reason, speak, or read, then they must not be as bright as we are. Outlining Who is Way Smarter Through the ages, the ruling classes, from religion to scholars, do repeat that same belief: "We, humans are incomparable because we are the cleverest being in the animal kingdom." They also pretend that animals have no soul or feelings. However, science and life show us that animals do have feelings, a soul, and reasoning faculties which makes them way smarter than we think. So, this belief of thinking that we are superior in intelligence goes back some ten thousand years ago. It started when man created agriculture, farms, and domestication of animals. It then gained momentum with the beliefs of religion, which regarded humans as the principal species in creation. But does it mean that our intelligence is at a higher level? Of course not; they are just of different types. When a foreigner tries to talk to you using an imperfect, flawed or broken version of your language, your first impression is that they are not very smart. But the truth is entirely different. The Unconditional Love of Animals When it comes to animals, they are way smarter than what we tend to give them credit for. They are just smart on their own terms, which often look nothing like yours or mine. I believe we can learn a lot of things from them such as love, empathy, and compassion. So when they care, you can witness that they genuinely do; it is not just a fake disguise like human beings do. Of the animal kingdom, some of these beings love humans unconditionally. However, a lot of people still abuse and mistreat such affection. When something happens to us, animals do not put us down, push us aside or suddenly decide not to love us anymore. That attitude only shows that they are way smarter than we are. No matter the circumstances, they are there at our side until the end, and too often, we take this for granted. Yet, some people have no problem getting rid of an animal when it does not fit their life or agenda anymore. And we are supposed to be the most intelligent species on this planet; think again! The Intelligence of Animals Every day, our pets communicate with us through their demands and make us do things they desire. The animal world is much more complicated than we seem to believe or think. My father is a racehorse trainer, so I grew around horses and lived for many years in an apartment over a racehorse stable. Cats and dogs were also an integral part of my life like with any standard equine barn. In the 60's, there were no smartphones or sophisticated cameras to make videos in seconds. But all of my life, I witnessed behaviors, intelligence and memory tricks from animals. The following story is a perfect example of it. One day, my father bought a racehorse named "Murdoch" from another city, twenty miles away. After a few days, he took the horse to the track to train him. While galloping, a tractor made an enormous noise which scared the animal, and its rider fell off. The horse, then alone, dashed across the track and jumped over the barrier disappearing into the woods. A Story of Being Way Smarter It was time to get in the car. I rode along, at my father's side, to look for the horse. We searched everywhere but to no avail. A few hours later, on our return to the barn, the former owner called. In amazement, she told my dad that the animal was at her ranch. So, it meant that the horse galloped over roads and through woods to get back to his previous barn without a single scratch. Somehow, he figured how to do twenty miles of unknown territory and return where he came from. Not only the horse did this, but because of cameras around the ranch, we were able to see how he did enter the horse farm. When arriving at the front entrance, the animal saw that it was closed. So it went around the back, pushed the small gate and climbed the steps standing in its way. Then found an open stall, entered it and waited there, knowing that it was the only home he knew. Animals Are Way Smarter Animals are amazing and deserve as much respect as people for their memory, intelligence, tenacity and unconditional love. Horses, dogs, and cats, among many species that spend time around people, can recognize body language signs that you or I do not pay attention to. Primates such as chimpanzees can easily beat people at remembering a series of numbers that they saw for a fraction of a second. Octopuses learn to open childproof caps on medication bottles, which many of us cannot unlock. Bats do map out space with echolocation and sonar. Birds figure out and understand the complex mechanics of flying and landing. Crows, pictured in horror movies for stupid reasons, are not just among the most intelligent birds, but they are way smarter than most creatures. They can accomplish tasks that three and four-year-old children have trouble doing. Animals Have Feelings While they have different brain structures, experts estimate that animals such as crows and apes handle and use a combination of mental tools. It even includes imagination and the expectation of potential future events so that they can solve problems. Again, I witnessed some crows learning how to use cars for cracking nuts. They wait patiently at intersections while keeping watch on the traffic lights. So, when the traffic stops they retrieve a nut that vehicles crushed, which they have put earlier on the road. Furthermore, it is now evident that elephants grieve. Most mammals feel joy, love, and sadness or suffering. Once, in Ukraine, my mother in law took home a stray cat that was living on a hospital ground. It was not a small kitten but a full grown cat. The cat was now living with her countryside house fifteen miles away from the hospital, and he looked unhappy. Give Animals Credit One day, she opened the door, and the cat flew by her, running away into the fields. Ten days later, thinking that she lost the animal forever, it showed up on the hospital ground. The animal had lost a lot of weight and seemed to suffer a minor injury, but he was alive. He had found his way home through fields and against unbelievable obstacles. So, human beings have to stop this obsession of comparing animals to human aptitude. We pick things that we are good at, like technology or language. And we then associate it with intelligence to other species of our world. But animals are way smarter than we think. So, let's think twice before making any assumption and give them the credit they deserve.

Animals Deserve Respect As Much As People

In this beautiful world, animals deserve respect as much as people. They have as much right to live as us, human beings. It is our world, but it is their world too. So, this planet belongs to all creatures living on it. Yet, many are against this notion, since they believe that animals do not have feelings or a soul. Are we to have all the rights, just because we are at the top of the food chain? Does that give humans the right to remove animal privileges? Didn't we learn our lesson through countless wars? It seems not! A lot of people still do not get it, like a child who never learns. Animals have rights. And they surely deserve respect, so they can live their lives free from suffering, abuse, and mistreatment. A life is a life, and it should be valued. Animals cannot speak for themselves and for that reason we have to be their voice and care for them. So, protecting them is something you and I should be proud of. As individuals, it is our responsibility. All creatures have the right to be free of persecution, cruelty, captivity, exploitation, and abuse by people. When we respect the well-being of animals, we restore balance in natural preservation. Animals Deserve Respect "Each and every animal on earth has as much right to be here and have respect, and love, as you and me." - Unknown Yet, too many think that animals are on this planet for us to exploit, dominate, use and rule over them. A lot of us believe that we are above it all, but we have so much to learn. However, there are also those who do think that animals deserve respect as much as people. So, I am one of those people who firmly believe animals should have a better place in our world. They are sentient beings. We should protect them the same way we look after a disabled child. Both of them do not have the same conscious principles that we do. But they still need to be loved, cared for, protected and respected. Blind to the Truth Just because animals cannot tell us how they feel, it does not mean that they have no rights. One day our sun will expand, and that will be the end of us. Yet, we cannot get away from a fact. It is we people who are defining which criteria to put on worth. But who gave us such a privilege? In my opinion, I believe that animals hold a special place in our world and some of them, especially our pets, become family members. They do not have a voice to speak up for themselves, so they deserve respect and to be saved. And I believe that we, as people should do that for them. Of course, I do not believe that animals need to rule human society. But does it give us the right to be cruel, kill, abuse, starve, torture or slaughter other living creatures? It is illegal to kill another person, but somehow, it is okay to hurt, mistreat or kill animals. How is that any less bad? Most of us are blind to the truth. Animals and the Arrogant Species "Animals are the real victims on this earth. They do not declare war, they do not have weapons, and they do not want to destroy humans, or impose religion. Yet, for some people, their only crime is that they exist." - The Author SVB In truth, we are an arrogant species, entitling ourselves to be superior to all other species and lowering any other classes. Most people claim that animals do not have feelings or have a soul. They believe them to be worthless, and only here to provide food and needs for us, human beings. Since I am a child, I always rebelled and wondered why man believes he is at the top of the food chain. We are not faster, stronger or even brighter than a lot of animals. Of course, we can reason and have a great deal of intelligence at our disposal. But then again we are also the only arrogant species who have so little respect and is bent on killing the very planet that sustains our lives. So, to me, this kind of intelligence looks more like stupidity. Animals Do Have Feelings Despite all the things that happen in our world, our lack of consideration and awareness in this matter shows that we are not as evolved as we should be. It begins by giving equal attention towards animals as well as towards our fellow men. Some people are now strating to wake up to these facts, but we still have a long way to go. So, all animals deserve respect because they can suffer and sense pain in the same way and to the same degree that you and I do. They can feel happiness, pain, fear, pleasure, care, sadness, loneliness, and motherly love. They understand more than what we give them credit for. Animals are also living creatures. Why do people feel they are better is beyond me. Humanity would be nowhere if animals did not exist in this world. The truth is it is just as bad killing an animal as it is to kill a human, it is murder. Killing one insect by accident is OK, but a herd of cows or a pride of lions is not right. Often, I believe people are equal, if not lower, than other animals. The Most Disrespectful of All Animals We have the power to think, visualize and invent things, and it is what caused humans to flourish in the first place. It is such an incredible ability. And yes, we human beings have imaginations, but we also possess self-awareness. So, we have the skill to reflect on our existence. Yet we should have more integrity and compassion. Indeed, we are the most sophisticated of all animals in this world, yet the most disrespectful. We can speak different languages, cook food, create things, drive a car or fly a plane, and even debate over all kinds of situations. Yet, I am asking you: "If we are more intelligent and have a greater capacity for thought, why are we acting with such disrespect towards this planet and the animals living on it?" Therefore, the world would be so much better off without our silly ways of thinking we are the best thing on the planet. And yet we act like idiots and treat animals as if they were things! No matter what you may say, people are animals on the inside. We hunt, fight, multiply, group, live, just like any other animal and sometimes even, in a worse way. Animals Are Not Things However, through our experiences, we know animals undergo pain and suffering. Scientifically, we realize more and more that many of them exhibit intelligent behaviors. It is unacceptable to think of another person as being less because of the color of their skin or gender. So it is unfair to treat animals disrespectfully. Instead, they deserve respect as much as you and I, if not more. On this beautiful planet, we are the leading species. Therefore, we have a moral responsibility to protect the interests of all other life on this earth. And it starts with accepting them as equals. Animals are not ours to exploit; they are not toys or things. They are living creatures, just like you and I. For me, it is not if animals can think or speak, but more about "Many are suffering."