OVER the decades, experts from different fields have agreed that while many animals have human-like psychological traits, they are incapable of sentiments as complex as a grudge.
Is it true that animals lack the intelligence to be vengeful?
VERDICT:
TRUE
You should be very nice to all animals for your own good, as some animals – including your pets – can be vengeful creatures.
This is illustrated in the research by University of Bristol anthroozoologist John Bradshaw, who found that cats don’t forgive and once they realise a person is causing them anxiety, they keep away.
However, cat lovers can be at peace knowing that researchers have found several ways for humans to make amends with cats.
On the other hand, dogs do not have a good short-term memory but remember people, places, and experiences and are able to form associations around how those things made them feel.
Studies show that dogs do have the cognitive capacity and emotional depth to hold a grudge against people or events that have led them to form negative associations.
In 2011, researchers in Seattle found that a crow population they had been capturing and tagging would recognise and harass their former captors, even a year after last seeing them.
The study also found that they are likely to teach their friends and family to watch out for those who are out to get them as well.
When it comes to wild creatures, Animal Personality Institute director Sam Gosling says grudge-like behaviour has also been spotted in creatures as diverse as cuttlefish and great cats.
An example of this would be Truman, an octopus that used to live at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts; he disliked a volunteer and would shoot a stream of water at her at every opportunity he got.
The lady later left for college but returned for a visit a few months later, only to be shot at by Truman, who had not been shooting water at anyone since her departure.
Still not convinced that you should be kind to all animals? Hold on. It gets more brutal.
In 2016, a man in India was killed by his own camel who had been tied out in the scorching sun for the whole day as he was preoccupied with entertaining guests at his house.
When the man tried untying the camel at night, the angry camel caught him by the neck and lifted him up before throwing him back to the ground.
It then chewed on the neck until the head was separated from the body.
Similar incidents have happened in Malaysia, with the most recent involving a Borneo pygmy elephant who gored its handler to death at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The elephant is none other than Baby Kejora @ Joe, who got worldwide attention when he was the sole survivor of a poisoning that killed 14 Borneo pygmy elephants nine years ago.
So don't think for one second that animals don't have feelings. That's how an animal-related horror movie usually starts.
Sources:
1) https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/cats-like-humans-can-hold-a-grudge/MRE4J46K2RFGBFB2UJXEOW7WSY/
2) https://fotp.com/learn/dog-training/can-dogs-hold-a-grudge
3) https://www.livescience.com/14819-crows-learn-dangerous-faces.html
4) https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/love-humor/do-any-animals-besides-humans-hold-grudge/
5) https://orionmagazine.org/article/deep-intellect/
6) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Tied-in-heat-all-day-angry-camel-severs-owners-head/articleshow/52392651.cms
7) https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/12/25/elephant-gores-handler-to-death-at-lok-kawi-wildlife-park
8) https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/12/29/the-day-when-celebrated-baby-joe-became-aggressive
