
Peter Wohlleben
A revealing look into the emotional and cognitive worlds of animals, highlighting their intelligence, empathy, and complex social behaviors.
Bees can remember human faces and plan for the future.
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Section 1
9 Sections
Imagine a warm summer day in a quiet forest garden where a tiny squirrel mother, weighed down by her babies clinging tightly around her neck, moves slowly yet determinedly. Each step she takes is a testament to selfless love, as she risks breathlessness and exhaustion to carry her offspring to safety.
Just as humans rely on the hormone oxytocin to bond with their newborns, many animals share this biochemical gift. In a quiet barn, a mother goat gently licks her newborn kids, cleaning them and strengthening their bond.
Contrary to the old belief that animals act only by instinct, these examples demonstrate that their inner lives are rich with feelings. Adoption stories, like that of a dog caring for orphaned piglets or a crow nurturing a lost kitten, further illustrate that love and empathy transcend species boundaries. Such acts are not just programmed behaviors but choices informed by emotion and circumstance.
Animals also care about comfort. Squirrels build intricate nests lined with soft moss to protect themselves from cold nights, showing a desire for warmth and rest.
As we reflect on these insights, we begin to see animals not as simple automatons but as sentient beings capable of love, sacrifice, and emotional complexity. Their inner lives invite us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world, fostering empathy and respect.
Let us now explore the nature of instinct and how it intertwines with consciousness, revealing that even humans share much with the creatures around us.
How do squirrel mothers carry their babies when threatened?
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Maternal care in animals is driven by a deep emotional bond, supported by hormones, not just hardwired instinct.
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Discover the astonishing emotional world of animals and how it challenges everything we thought we knew.
Read articleNew research reveals how animals’ unconscious brain activity shapes emotions and decisions, debunking myths about instinct.