Just A Few Genes

Yes, just a few genes is all that separates us from the primates ..... if any proof is needed then this story about research indicating that Chimpanzees find yawns so 'contagious' (like us, I yawned as well) that they can catch them from 'cartoons'.

Scientists from Emory University in Atlanta, US, have discovered that an animation of a yawning chimp will stimulate real chimps to yawn.

On another story, the worlds tiniest parrots (members of another animal species that shows remarkable intelligence) have been found .... the tiny birds, which are not much bigger than an adult person's thumb, are smaller than some of the insects with which it shares the forest. On average, buff-faced pygmy parrots (Micropsitta pusio) stand less than 9cm tall and weigh 11.5g (0.41oz).

As we destroy the forests, amazing wonders are discovered only to be destroyed forever, and we show no shame. The link has film of these amazing creatures.

Aesops Fables

Aesops Fables included the tale of The Crow and the Pitcher in which a Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it.

Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher and he repeated this trick until the water level rose within reach and he slaked his thirst and saved his life.

Well, scientists have found that there may be a basis in truth in this fable, because a rook has been seen to do precisely that same trick when faced with a similar situation .... "The rooks have to put multiple stones in the tube until the worm floats to the top" said Dr Nathan Emery. The four birds did just that. Two, called Cook and Fry, raised the water-level enough to grab the floating feast the very first time that they were presented with the test, while the other two Connelly and Monroe, were successful on their second attempt.

Animal intelligence never ceases to surprise us. especially tool and problem solving amongst birds.