“If a cat
and an iguana nuzzle each other and nap together, and a dog and a fish can
‘kiss’ upon meeting at the boundary between their terrestrial and aquatic
worlds, then it’s time for humans to take a lesson from other animals in how to
get along.”
Belinda
Recio
You wouldn’t imagine a crow saving the life of
a kitten. Yet this is what happened in Massachusetts. Ann and Wally Collito
knew that people would find the situation difficult to believe, so they videotaped the interactions between the crow and the kitten. Initially, they
thought the crow would attack the kitten.
The
kitten had been abandoned on their property, and the couple witnessed how the
crow, which they named Moses, fed insects and worms to the kitten, which they
named Cassie. Moses nurtured Cassie and made sure she was safe at all times.
This was a clear act of empathy and altruism between species.
Cooperation used to be understood as one of
the qualities that distinguishes human beings from other animals, but
scientists are now starting to understand that cooperation is an important element
of survival in the natural world. It is not unique to humans. Examples of
cooperation in the animal world abound, and this book brings some of those
together in a delightful, inspiring read.
Qualities like loyalty, friendship, a sense of
fairness, curiosity, empathy, creativity and even spirituality are not unique
to humans. With both research and anecdotes, this book will broaden your
perspective. It will help you to dissolve negative stereotypes attached to many
animal species, and will enhance your understanding of the world around you.
The book contains a foreword by ethologist
Jonathan Balcombe, who has published over fifty scientific research papers on
animal behavior and protection, and is also the author of Second Nature, which I reviewed in My Writing Life blog last year.
Belinda Recio’s book showcases an amazing
variety of heart-warming photos that make this reading adventure even more
vivid and vibrant.
The bad reputation assigned to rats is not
justified. Research showed that 50 to 80 percent of the time rats were more
interested in helping another rat in trouble than in a chocolate treat. Female
crocodiles respond empathetically not just to their own hatchlings but also to
those of other crocodiles. They even have playful relationships with river
otters. You will learn about dolphins, octopuses, prairie dogs, orangutans,
gorillas, parrots, goats, and many other animals.
Albert Einstein once said that it is easier to
disintegrate an atom than a prejudice. Hopefully, Belinda Recio’s book will
prove him wrong.
Dive
into Inside Animal Hearts and Minds, and immerse yourself in a world of
wonder, awareness and empathy. Make sure you share it with the children in your
life as well.
If
you enjoyed this post, feel free to read my writing on Unlikely Friendships and
Unlikely Heroes.
Till next time.
