Animals at Play

Taal: nld
Categorie: Natuur

Around the planet, animals play all sorts of group games - from dolphins that play catch to hyena games of tug of war. Scientists are now discovering that playing together can provide animals with all sorts of surprising benefits. Young dolphins play high-speed games of chase to help them learn how to co-ordinate their growing bodies. Chimpanzees use play to work out who they can trust within the troop. Experiments with baboons show that play preferences can be influenced by sex: males and females often play very different games together. Throughout the animal kingdom, playing with others comes with huge benefits, building trust and lifelong friendships, and establishing the rules of the group. It helps groups of animals to unite despite their social position and achieve more as a group than they ever could alone. For many animals its crucial to their success in the wild and even their survival.