Do Animals feel Love?

Recently, I watched a series called zoo, an American drama series that centers on animals attacking humans. The reason for the violent animal attacks was to retaliate from humans’ unfairness towards them over them. In this fiction, we see animals being very hostile towards humans and even killing their former caregivers. Despite the story being very fictitious, I could not help but wonder if the animals really couldn’t tell a difference between the animal-loving humans and the animal-degrading humans such as trophy hunters and bush meat poachers. Can animals really love?

 

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Some people argue that animals cannot love because they have smaller brains. They relate emotion and intelligence to brain size.  This is not true because the animals with the biggest brains are the sperm whale and the elephants. In terms of ratio of brain to body size, the shrew takes the cup here.  This does not mean that the whale, elephant and shrew have a greater capability of experiencing emotion. In fact, some scientists argue that humans are not the most intelligent creatures because other creatures such as cetaceans have brains with more cognitive features than we humans do. So, if other animals have more advanced brains, does that not mean that they can also experience attachment and feelings the way we do or even greater?

I do not think we can deny that animals, like us, are empathetic creatures.  Elephants have been seen to help each other, take out casts.  In Hungary, a two year old elephant lay over the body of his mother after she died for 14 hours and mourned when they removed the body. Animals do feel for each other. Hens have also been observed to fight when grouped together with strange hens. Hens even kill each other. I think any animal capable of such hate is capable of love.  Hens is a funny example tough because hens are one of the least intelligent animals. 

In Kenya, there is the story of Tom and Owen. Tom was a hippo who loved Owen, the tortoise too much. I particularly remember this story from more than ten years ago because my younger sister even named her dolls after these animals. The hippo was very distressed and was seen mopping after Owen escaped the reserve. This is to show that animal not only feel attachment towards themselves but other species. Perhaps a dog is the most common example. Dogs are one of the most loving animals. They even mourn for the death of their caregivers. I have a friend with a very friendly dog that doesn’t bite even when you mess with it. The only time the dog has ever been agitated was when my friend was threatened. 

>>Read more on Human's Love towards animals

Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist studied the brain of dogs and found out that the part of the brain associated with attachment, empathy and theory of mind in animals is very active. Most humans assume that animals do not think at all while dogs are seen to always be thinking of what humans could be thinking about. This shows that their theory of mind is actually greater than ours.

Our emotions are not that different seeing as when cats are given serotonin and dopamine, hormones associated with love and affection, they respond the same. In the movie, Dawn of the Planet apes, there is a scene where we see animals enjoying a bottle of drink. It all seems funny but animals actually do enjoy alcohol which means it must have a similar effect on their brains and moods. Ever since ten million years ago, primates, humans and apes included, acquired the 40-fold, the ability to break down ethanol. Chimpanzees in the forests of Bossou in Guinea have also been observed for 17 years enjoying a rich alcoholic brew fermented from sugary sap. 1000 green vervet monkeys were also given alcohol on experimental basis. They exhibited the same behavior as humans do and some even became abusive drinkers due to addiction. Alcohol gave them the same good feeling through release of opsoids that it gives us humans. This is to show that our brain structure is very similar and that animals can feel what we fell. In fact, 96% of our genetic makeup is similar to that of apes.

You can breathe now. Your parrot thinks more of you than just its food provider. In fact, parrots are one of the most intelligent animals but that’s a story for another day.

By Tracy Wankio

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Where Is The Line? 

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Where is the Line?

The killing of animals has been a great source of debate among many from CITES, wildlife conservationists, poachers and even animal keepers. When is it right to kill an animal? Where is the line?

In the world of creatures, there exist carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. Human beings are naturally made to be omnivores, consumers of both plant and other animals. This is our nature. We were born this way. At what point do we call our nature barbaric. By conserving animals, aren’t we disobeying nature?

If animals can kill, why shouldn’t we? That’s basically how carnivores survive. Bush meat poaching is very common around game reserves e.g. in Uganda. At the rate in which the wild animal population is declining, we are still hunting animals such as buffaloes for game in the name of nature. To what end shall we clear the planet of non-humans?

I recently watched a documentary that showed how lions hunt wildebeests and the people in the region later steal the kill. Is it morally right for us to hunt with lions? The wildebeest was dead anyway. In Maasai Mara 1977, the wildebeest population was 119,000. In 1997, twenty years down the line, the number reduced to 22,000. In the poachers’ defense, the population decline is due to lack of food. The wildebeest was bound to die so we are just making use of them before they go extinct. 

When it comes to killing animals, on what basis do we decide what animals to kill? This has been a very huge argument that has not been solved. Many Kenyans, for example, cannot imagine hunting whales because there are now whales in Kenya and any whale found would bring fascination. On the other hand, countries such as Japan, Norway and Iceland are actively practicing whaling for meat, oil and blubber. There are some communities that kill 4 to 6 whales a year. 1 whale serves as food for the community for 3 months. There are approximately 2 million whales in the world so this does not make such a large difference but what about a place like Faroe Islands where about 950 whales are hunted in a year. I think whaling is generally a sensitive sore for me considering I’m that Kenyan who has never seen a live whale and I know that sperm whales reproduce around once in five years.

Peter Singer, a bioethics once said that our future selves will consider meat-eating to be barbaric. I think it’s true. Think of how many people are vegetarian because they find the act of eating meat disgusting. A lot of animals are found sacred at least in one religion or culture. 

Image source: Pininterest

Some groups argue that rearing meat-producing animals is okay because we gave those animals life and that their purpose for life was to be killed eventually. These animals should thank us for their existence. Really? Do we really grant life? I’m almost sure we would all object if human babies were birthed by scientists in order to be used as guinea pigs. 

Killing animals because they are dangerous is also another defense for poachers. It’s quite interesting why more harmless, curious, friendly and intelligent whales are killed than the man-eating sharks. Recently, the whole mourned the death of Cecil the lion when lions are more dangerous than the bird species we hunt. India has lately shown great strides in the preservation of tigers. The number of tigers has increased by 33% in the past two years as a result of mainly relocating people who live near the animals and kill the tigers in the name of the danger they pose to them.

Anyway, I do not know about the morality of poaching. I do not know about killing animals for the survival of species. I know this though: Wild animals are I game reserves for a reason. They are there for protection against those of us who do not know when to kill.

>>Read more on The Beauty of Game Drives

By Tracy Wankio

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The Animals Of Christmas

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The Animals of Christmas

Christmas is a holiday that marks the birth of Jesus of Christ for most people. It is celebrated by many, pagans and Christians. In fact it ranks most popular holiday with around 1.6 billion cards sent globally, followed  by Valentine’s Day then Mother’s Day. It is very interesting to note how many of these cards have animals on them. I’d say most of them but look around you. This is the season anyway.
The association of animals with Christmas stemmed from pagan traditions of animal cults, sacrifices and fertility and the 19th century romanticism by writings of famous authors such as Sr. W. Scott and Charles Dickens.

Credit should also be given to other earlier poets such as Aurelius Prudentius who wrote poets, giving animals human voices on Christmas Eve. This idea has been carried on by many. In fact, Gamma Films created a piece called “The Night When Animals Talked” that was very popular in the 20th century. It was believed that on Christmas Eve, 1 hour before midnight, all animals were granted speech so as to praise Jesus Christ. In Eastern Europe, it was a bad sign to catch them at it and most people avoided the stables and sheds at this hour. The animals mostly associated with this night were farmyard cattle and the Native Americans included a belief that wild deer knelt towards the East in honor.

One of the most popular animals to be put on gift cards is the Robin, associated with kindness and intelligence. The red robin with a fiery, breast was believed to have brought flames to mankind in times of need. Another interesting story is that the robin punctured its breast and it plumaged after trying to remove a thorn from Jesus’ crown of thorns during crucifixion. The robin and Wren are reffered a God’s cock and hen in many writings.

Reindeer are a symbol of fortune and joy. They are believed to have drawn the sleigh that loads Santa’s presents. The rein deer are eight in number and each has its name with leader as Rudolph. Six burly Kangaroos are also believed to have drawn Santa’s sleigh through the sky.

According to the Christian Bible, in the story of Christ’s baptism, a dove flew above Christ’s head before he heard the voice of God. This makes the dove a very holy animal associated with purity. Doves are also a symbol of peace. In the original version of the song, Twelve days of Christmas, two turtle doves are to be given as a present on the second day of Christmas.

The bees and birds are very important during Christmas. They are believed to awaken from sleep on Christmas Eve and hum the Old hundredth song. Birds are very crucial to Christmas from the robin to the humming birds and colly birds. In fact ‘The twelve days of Christmas’ published in 1980 talks about birds throughout the song. On the second day, it talks about turtle doves. On the third day, it talks about hen and on the fourth, geese.  The five golden rings referred to in the song means pheasant cocks, the drummers are the grouse and the phrase “Lord a leaping” talks of cock pheasants. In other versions, there is the mention of more birds such as peacocks.

Other animals associated with Christmas are the donkeys that carried Mary, the camels that carried the three kings, the boars whose head are served ceremoniously during Christmas, the raven who according to the Welsh heal the blind, the eagles who have most lecterns in English churches carved in their shape, the sheep, goat, hens, turkey etc.

As we approach Christmas, remember the significance of animals in our traditions. Animals help define Christmas and our lives. Poaching undermines our traditions.

By Tracy Wankio

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What You Need to Know Before You Start a Project

A start up is like a baby. You get so excited to have it. It’s something new and at first, you put all your energy and positive vibes into it, which is good thing. You rush blindly, popularizing the idea, talking about it, until you start. When you start, you stop. You stop to think where all those bright ideas you had disappeared. From our experience as the A team, these are the things we did not know that we probably should have known and it applies to many from research.

1. It is not easy

This is probably the most obvious one but a lot of people forget. You have to sit down, think, consider a lot of things and most importantly, write everything down.

2. Finances

Funding is very important especially if your project needs a boost as big as ours. It is important to never underestimate the cost of starting up. This can mess you up.  You should also consider various ways of funding such as self-funding, crowd funding through sites such as Cheetah Fund, Kickstarter and Indiegogo. You could also consider loans, grants and competitions. For us, our kick-starter came from Innovate Kenya though we have had to look further. Another important rule is: Do not start spending until you have everything certain.

3. Publicity

Getting to know your target audience and advertising your product is also important so that you know how many people will need it.

4. Schedules fail. Plans fail

Many times, you will give yourself deadlines and they might fail and you may give up. You need to know that plans fail. As a team, we failed so many times that we learnt a new method of measuring progress. We now measure progress not by deadlines but by how much time we spend working on it.

5. Structure is important

Whatever you do, structure is important. You may come up with an idea as a group. Not everyone can run everything though. Assigning yourselves roles is very important, however small the group.

6. Your idea will change.

Many successful start-ups will tell you what they have now is not what they had in mind. As the A team, we had envisioned a moving device that not only stops poaching but wildfires too. We then decided to have a passive infrared sensor surveillance system that fights poaching. Then I decided to sell the team on an idea to use chemical detection instead because of the failures the first idea had. They bought it for a week before they came to their senses and told me “No!” Now we are working on an improved passive infrared surveillance system incorporated with insulation badges. We did not fail to achieve our first goal. We evolved.

7. Have a name

A name, trademark, website, business card is important. Do not wait for people to praise you and talk about you. Start it yourself.

By Tracy Wankio. 

Love Love

It’s funny how sometimes people complain of lack of love. Love is everywhere, so tender and sweet. Maybe just what we all need not to have wrinkles on our face. This is not a guide on how to find love, if you feel unlucky, but well….you may discover your way out eventually.

When I was around 6 years, if my memory isn’t failing me, my mother noticed a lot of rats in the house and so she brought a kitten so it could actually eat the rats. Since I was an only child and I was not always allowed to go outside the gate when I get bored, I made this kitten my pet. I’d steal frozen smokies from the freezer and after melting under my pillow I’d give my kitten some part of it. Obviously I had to have the bigger share. That’s how my love for animals probably began. Let me tell you a story of a story.

There was once a young lady, Daphne Sheldrick who lived in Africa in the 1820’s. She lived in Kenya with her family as they were one of the representatives of the colonialists. Daphne had insane love for animals and this is pretty evident as she is the first person to actually hand rear a new born elephant. She had perfected the right husbandry and milk formula to save elephants, rhinos and other baby animals from death.

As you read her book, we see her amazing relationship with loads of orphan animals that she share more than forty years of great friendship and love. Famously known are her majestic elephant Eleanor, the mischievous zebra, the little dwarf mongoose among others.

 She also falls in love with a warden, David Sheldrick, who had wide knowledge on matters of the wild. His death is tragic but inspires Daphne to achieve more than she had already achieved. She is seen as a pro life and has campaigns for an end to poaching and for conservation of kenya's wildlife.

We see love is everywhere, but more purer is this love from nature. It loves back exactly how much we love it, it doesn’t hide any love away from us. I wish we could all love our animals, and see how much love we woud have in the world, I bet suicide would be irrelevant in life, and poaching too.

By Njeri Wangumo

Honoring The Rangers

I came across an article in the telegraph with the title “Prince William honors rhino ranger after Cecil shooting.” The article wrote, “Prince William saluted Nderitu in a letter of congratulation that described the honor as “richly deserved” – and praised him for “the extraordinary contribution you and your team at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy have made towards the protection of wildlife and increased security for the rural communities of northern Kenya.” First and foremost good work Nderitu!

Edward Nderitu with his Tusk wildlife ranger award. 

Many at times we take some jobs for granted one of them being a ranger. I must say it is no easy task. Rangers control, supervise and manage national parks, scenic areas, historic sites, nature reserves and other recreational areas. These individuals deserve all the credit they can get. I mean their job is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Moreover they are learned individuals. To be able to understand an animal, its needs and its environment is a combination of being a veterinary doctor and biologist. That to me is genius, well mostly because I was terrible at science.

Some of the tasks they have to carry out are to capture and relocate potentially dangerous animals. For example in situations where these wild animals cross over to human settlement areas the rangers are called upon to return the wild animal back to the park. Another thing they do is to care for sick, injured or orphaned animals. They ensure that these animals are well fed and cared for in the period they are unwell and only let them go after they have ensured the animal is in complete good health.They have to also be socially equipped so at to be able to relate with the various people who come to view these wild animals. They ensure park visitors follow laws and procedures relating to wildlife.

Being a ranger requires heart, passion and love for the wild. The few rangers I got to meet in my travel were such delightful people. They have accepted the animals as their families and do their best to ensure their safety and protection from all those who wish to harm them.

Which brings me back to Edward Nderitu , a ranger who has put his best foot forward in ensuring that the rhinos in his park are protected. He is employed as the head of the anti-poaching unit and the northern rangelands trust. His response to the award given to him was his gratitude for the recognition of his team and the support he received from the people around him. Lewa’s CEO describe him as a committed, integral and an outstanding leader with a fierce sense of fairness. Edward is set to visit London to receive his award in November. Congratulations Edward!

Well Edward is just an example of these courageous men who have dedicated their time and livelihood to serving and protecting our heritage. I salute all the rangers and game wardens in all national parks and game reserves. They are ultimately a very crucial part of our ecosystem.

This video below is to show you how dangerous this job really is:

 By Mercy Sigey


image credit:www.telegraph.co.uk

Game Drive

In most game parks and game reserves in Kenya the drive is normally done in the early morning or late afternoon. If you have never been on a game drive, you would probably ask what the big fuss is. Well it’s a matter of experience as it’s unique to every individual and different every single time. There is always something new and exciting that you stumble upon.

Last year I had the opportunity of going on game drive in Maasai Mara game reserve. It  is a large game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Mara Region, Tanzania. It is named in honor of the maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) and their description of the area when looked at from a far: "Mara," which is Maa (Maasai language) for "spotted," an apt description for the circles of trees, scrub, savanna, and cloud shadows that mark the area.

It is globally famous for its exceptional population of Maasai lions, African leopards and Tanzanian cheetahs, and the annual migration of zebra, Thomson's gazelle, and wildebeest to and from the Serengeti every year from July to October, known as the Great Wildebeest Migration.

After a day filled with team building activities, the team I travelled with was ready for a game drive in the evening. We got into our open lorry that was surprisingly very comfortable with cute chairs, really not what I was expecting when I was told we would be using a lorry. The drive began at exactly 1600hours.

The first spectacular animal we saw was the giraffe. Most graceful animal. It just stood there as we watched it pick its leaves from a high tree. Its unique pattern blow me away. Got me thinking, God has so much creativity no animal looks like another even though they are of the same species.

We drove on to find the lion and while at it we came across a cheetah sitting at the top of a tree. The ranger began his random facts and true stories of past experiences. He explained how one time as they were on a game drive with a different group of people the cheetah jumped on the windscreen of one of their cars and broke it. That’s not really a fact you tell people when your write under the cheetah’s tree. So we all kept silent mostly because we feared for our lives and wouldn’t want the cheetah getting angry such that it causes a scene.

We drove on. Have you ever been infront of an elephant? They seem large from a distance but get close enough these animals are gigantic! If I felt minute in a lorry, a lorry being one of the largest vehicles we have, then you cannot begin to imagine how big the animal is. Respect to those animals, I wouldn’t mess with any of them unless I wanted to get smashed. Which brings to mind a story the ranger told us and probably a story everyone has been told by now. It begins when a family with a baby boy decides to visit the mara for their holiday. The baby boy saw a baby elephant and decides to go towards it and out of the excitement of being so close to such a creature he began ‘playing ‘ with the elephant but beating the elephant with a branch is not registered as fun to the baby elephant and after a couple of beatings from the baby boy, it runs away.

Years later the boy, now a grown man with his family decides to come back to the mara. I too would keep going to the mara over and over again. So one night as he slept in his tent with his wife the baby elephant that now weighs thousands of pounds came to say hallo. This kind of greeting was more of revenge for the beating it received when he was young. We are told the memory of an elephant is so good it will remember every detail of its life. So it remembered the scent of the baby boy that beat him and on that night he smashed the man to his death.

Sounds like a real story huh? Well it feels like a myth to me. But even though I doubt the whole story, I don’t think I would play with an elephant’s feelings.

The game drive came to an end and we were amazed by the animals we saw. An unforgettable experience. If I were to give my whole story in detail of all my experiences then I probably would end up publishing a novel.

Share your experience with us.

By Mercy Sigey