Comments on: Friendship Across Species http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/ Nourishment and inspiration for those who love the Earth Fri, 18 May 2012 23:55:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Todd http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/comment-page-1/#comment-1512 Todd Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:46:16 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=2014#comment-1512 Orang loves dog. Another sign of how close they are to us! Sweet. Thanks, Todd Orang loves dog. Another sign of how close they are to us! Sweet. Thanks, Todd

]]> By: Barb Pequet http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/comment-page-1/#comment-1510 Barb Pequet Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:23:46 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=2014#comment-1510 I keep coming back to watch this repeated times, to smile, to appreciate the spontaneous joy of the orangutan who has found a friend. That drop-over-backwards glee is mesmerizing. But each time in the back of my mind I wonder how these compassionate, thoughtful people could keep only one animal of each species with them. Aren't most creatures social beings who seek to belong to a couple or a group of similar creatures? Surely this orangutan, the elephant and even the dog, members of species known to live in multigenerational groupings, herds or packs, would benefit from communicating with other animals like them. That issue aside, the video is a treat to behold. Thanks April! I keep coming back to watch this repeated times, to smile, to appreciate the spontaneous joy of the orangutan who has found a friend. That drop-over-backwards glee is mesmerizing.

But each time in the back of my mind I wonder how these compassionate, thoughtful people could keep only one animal of each species with them. Aren’t most creatures social beings who seek to belong to a couple or a group of similar creatures? Surely this orangutan, the elephant and even the dog, members of species known to live in multigenerational groupings, herds or packs, would benefit from communicating with other animals like them.

That issue aside, the video is a treat to behold. Thanks April!

]]> By: mczilla http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/comment-page-1/#comment-1508 mczilla Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:59:50 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=2014#comment-1508 It's not anthropomorphizing. Neuroscience and brain physiology tells us that at least some of what we actually have in common with the rest of the mammals are our feelings. They (usually) don't have our abilities for reason or abstract thinking, but they sure have their personalities, and anyone who has ever had a beloved pet knows they are, for better or worse, essentially all unfiltered emotion. It’s not anthropomorphizing. Neuroscience and brain physiology tells us that at least some of what we actually have in common with the rest of the mammals are our feelings. They (usually) don’t have our abilities for reason or abstract thinking, but they sure have their personalities, and anyone who has ever had a beloved pet knows they are, for better or worse, essentially all unfiltered emotion.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/comment-page-1/#comment-1507 Elizabeth Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:51:54 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=2014#comment-1507 Wonderful! ...and the gentle reminder that we are ALL made for pleasure (not in a hedonistic way, but in a joyful/appreciation-for-our-life way). Wonderful! …and the gentle reminder that we are ALL made for pleasure (not in a hedonistic way, but in a joyful/appreciation-for-our-life way).

]]> By: Cindy http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/comment-page-1/#comment-1504 Cindy Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:24:57 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=2014#comment-1504 I love this video! Thanks for sharing April. Just makes me want to go visit so I can play too! I love this video! Thanks for sharing April. Just makes me want to go visit so I can play too!

]]> By: Tanya http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2010/02/friendship-across-species/comment-page-1/#comment-1503 Tanya Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:48:06 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=2014#comment-1503 What a lovely story!!! Thanks, April. I'm smiling and smiling~ What a lovely story!!! Thanks, April. I’m smiling and smiling~

]]>