Loyal Lion

I've always felt that how someone treats animals is an accurate measure of a persons character. Those who mistreat animals are far more likely to mistreat their fellow human beings. Those who show compassion for animals are more likely to show compassion for their fellow humans. Should animals be treated as inferiors beings, as objects or tools to be used? Or should they be treated a intelligent beings, not with an intelligence on a human level, but intelligent nonetheless. As pet owners discover,  animals can think, they can play, they can deceive, they can experience emotions such as joy, love, sadness, loss, fear, and they can demonstrate virtues such as loyalty and courage. People who are far removed from interacting with animals suggest that such talk is merely anthropomorphizing, attributing human traits to animals. However, those who work and live with animals and the scientists who study them, know that our understanding of animal intelligence has often been simplistic and misguided, more reflective of a religious or cultural sensibility than a true understanding of the capabilities of different species.

Take a look at this video. The women in the video found a lion hurt and near death. She took him home and took care of him and then when he was better she contacted the zoo and they took over caring for him. The video records the first time the lion sees the woman after moving to the zoo. Ask yourself what the lion is thinking, what emotions he is experiencing, and what he is communicating to the woman.

Comments

[Scorpio]

I want to guarantee you that George Bush likes Barney a heck of a lot more than he likes Democrats or poor people, and cares a lot more about Barney and Miss Beazley than he does about the inhabitants of entire countries -- Iraq, Iran and Syria for a start.