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This video explores the surprising similarities between human and animal behavior, challenging the traditional view that humans are uniquely distinct from other species. Through compelling examples, it reveals how animals, from octopuses to elephants, display behaviors like tool use, teaching, and emotional intelligence—traits often believed to be exclusive to humans. The video shows that animals, like humans, are capable of complex thought and emotions, highlighting our shared consciousness and the importance of compassion across species.
By examining the intelligence and emotional depth of animals, this video sheds light on how creatures recognize and respond to human actions, showcasing the profound connection between humans and the animal kingdom. These insights challenge the notion that humans are the only sentient beings, emphasizing that love, empathy, and consciousness are not unique to us but are shared by many species on Earth.
As the narrative unfolds, the video argues that the true difference between humans and animals is not as clear-cut as we might think. While humans may be the most extreme in their behaviors—both compassionate and destructive—the essence of life and love is a shared experience across species. This underscores the need to protect and preserve the diverse life forms that share our world.
Ultimately, the video poses a crucial question: Are we, as humans, capable of using our unique abilities to protect the animals and ecosystems we coexist with? This reflection encourages viewers to reconsider their role in the natural world and take action to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.
Have you ever wondered what animals think and feel?
There are capacities of the human mind that we tend to think are capacities only of the human mind. But is that true? What are other beings doing with those brains?
Octopuses use tools, as well as do most apes and they recognize human faces. Sea otters show their babies what to do, which is called teaching.
We have the same imperatives: take care of our babies, find food, try to stay alive. We see helping where help is needed. We see curiosity in the young. We see the bonds of family connections. We recognize affection. And then we ask, “Are they conscious?”
It turns out that if you record the voices of tourists and you play that recording from a speaker hidden in bushes, elephants will ignore it, because tourists never bother elephants. But if you record the voices of herders who carry spears and often hurt elephants, the elephants will bunch up and run away from the hidden speaker. Not only do elephants know that there are humans, they know that there are different kinds of humans, and that some are OK and some are dangerous.
We cause so much pain to them. The mystery is, why don’t they hurt us more than they do? This whale had just finished tearing a seal into three pieces with two companions.The seal weighed about as much as the people in the boat. They had nothing to fear. Killer whales eat seals. Why don’t they eat us? Why is it that killer whales have returned to researchers lost in thick fog and led them miles until the fog parted and the researchers’ home was right there on the shoreline?
The things that make us human are not the things that we think make us human. What makes us human is that,of all these things that our minds and their minds have, we are the most extreme. We are the most compassionate, most violent, most creative and most destructive animal that has ever been on this planet, and we are all of those things all jumbled up together.
But love is not the thing that makes us human. It’s not special to us. We are not the only ones who care about our mates. We are not the only ones who care about our children.Passing life from one generation to the next is the chain of being. If that stops, it all goes away. If anything is sacred, that is.
When we welcome new human life into the world, we welcome our babies into the company of other creatures. We paint animals on the walls. We don’t paint cell phones. We don’t paint work cubicles. We paint animals to show them that we are not alone. We have company. And every one of those animals in every painting of Noah’s ark, deemed worthy of salvation is in mortal danger now, and their flood is us.
Are we capable of using what we have to care enough to simply let them continue?
Carl Safina is an American ecologist and author of books and other writings about the human relationship with the natural world. His books include Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace; Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel; Song for the Blue Ocean; Eye of the Albatross; The View From Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World; and others.
“Aw, man…right in the feels. I love animals. ❤”
“This is the most wonderful video I have ever seen and I wish every person could see it and really let the words sink in and spring them to action.”
“What we need to do as being a more intelligent species is stop thinking we are any better than they are. That would be an intelligent way to solve so many problems we have in our world today. So many think they are better than everyone else. To the point they have no compassion or empathy.”
“These are the types of videos that really make me question what the point of any of this is. Like why are we here? Why are other animals here? Why is any of this even possible? From both a religious and a non-religious perspective, I feel this way after watching these types of videos.”
“I’m here because I decided to Google if we have any proof because sometimes my cats just stare at me and I wonder what they’re thinking about when they do especially when they’re happy. There’s more going on under there I just know it.”
“Omg! This video brought tears”
“In the middle of a vegan argument, someone said animals aren’t sentient. I sent them this video.”
“I did not expect to cry from searching ‘how do animals think’”,
Music:
This video explores the surprising similarities between human and animal behavior, challenging the traditional view that humans are uniquely distinct from other species. Through compelling examples, it reveals how animals, from octopuses to elephants, display behaviors like tool use, teaching, and emotional intelligence—traits often believed to be exclusive to humans. The video shows that animals, like humans, are capable of complex thought and emotions, highlighting our shared consciousness and the importance of compassion across species.
By examining the intelligence and emotional depth of animals, this video sheds light on how creatures recognize and respond to human actions, showcasing the profound connection between humans and the animal kingdom. These insights challenge the notion that humans are the only sentient beings, emphasizing that love, empathy, and consciousness are not unique to us but are shared by many species on Earth.
As the narrative unfolds, the video argues that the true difference between humans and animals is not as clear-cut as we might think. While humans may be the most extreme in their behaviors—both compassionate and destructive—the essence of life and love is a shared experience across species. This underscores the need to protect and preserve the diverse life forms that share our world.
Ultimately, the video poses a crucial question: Are we, as humans, capable of using our unique abilities to protect the animals and ecosystems we coexist with? This reflection encourages viewers to reconsider their role in the natural world and take action to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.
Have you ever wondered what animals think and feel?
There are capacities of the human mind that we tend to think are capacities only of the human mind. But is that true? What are other beings doing with those brains?
Octopuses use tools, as well as do most apes and they recognize human faces. Sea otters show their babies what to do, which is called teaching.
We have the same imperatives: take care of our babies, find food, try to stay alive. We see helping where help is needed. We see curiosity in the young. We see the bonds of family connections. We recognize affection. And then we ask, “Are they conscious?”
It turns out that if you record the voices of tourists and you play that recording from a speaker hidden in bushes, elephants will ignore it, because tourists never bother elephants. But if you record the voices of herders who carry spears and often hurt elephants, the elephants will bunch up and run away from the hidden speaker. Not only do elephants know that there are humans, they know that there are different kinds of humans, and that some are OK and some are dangerous.
We cause so much pain to them. The mystery is, why don’t they hurt us more than they do? This whale had just finished tearing a seal into three pieces with two companions.The seal weighed about as much as the people in the boat. They had nothing to fear. Killer whales eat seals. Why don’t they eat us? Why is it that killer whales have returned to researchers lost in thick fog and led them miles until the fog parted and the researchers’ home was right there on the shoreline?
The things that make us human are not the things that we think make us human. What makes us human is that,of all these things that our minds and their minds have, we are the most extreme. We are the most compassionate, most violent, most creative and most destructive animal that has ever been on this planet, and we are all of those things all jumbled up together.
But love is not the thing that makes us human. It’s not special to us. We are not the only ones who care about our mates. We are not the only ones who care about our children.Passing life from one generation to the next is the chain of being. If that stops, it all goes away. If anything is sacred, that is.
When we welcome new human life into the world, we welcome our babies into the company of other creatures. We paint animals on the walls. We don’t paint cell phones. We don’t paint work cubicles. We paint animals to show them that we are not alone. We have company. And every one of those animals in every painting of Noah’s ark, deemed worthy of salvation is in mortal danger now, and their flood is us.
Are we capable of using what we have to care enough to simply let them continue?
Carl Safina is an American ecologist and author of books and other writings about the human relationship with the natural world. His books include Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace; Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel; Song for the Blue Ocean; Eye of the Albatross; The View From Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World; and others.
“Aw, man…right in the feels. I love animals. ❤”
“This is the most wonderful video I have ever seen and I wish every person could see it and really let the words sink in and spring them to action.”
“What we need to do as being a more intelligent species is stop thinking we are any better than they are. That would be an intelligent way to solve so many problems we have in our world today. So many think they are better than everyone else. To the point they have no compassion or empathy.”
“These are the types of videos that really make me question what the point of any of this is. Like why are we here? Why are other animals here? Why is any of this even possible? From both a religious and a non-religious perspective, I feel this way after watching these types of videos.”
“I’m here because I decided to Google if we have any proof because sometimes my cats just stare at me and I wonder what they’re thinking about when they do especially when they’re happy. There’s more going on under there I just know it.”
“Omg! This video brought tears”
“In the middle of a vegan argument, someone said animals aren’t sentient. I sent them this video.”
“I did not expect to cry from searching ‘how do animals think'”,
Music:
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