I’m pretty sure you already know that many animals have the ability to show various emotions like joy, stress, or anger.
But some just take it to another level. Take the Bluebirds, for instance. Did you know that these birds can become so jealous that they attack their partners?
The more we discover about animals, the more we realise we’re not as different from them as we thought.
Let’s discover which 6 creatures can experience emotions most similar to ours.
1. Elephants
Elephants are best known for their ability to form strong bonds with each other. This makes them protective, and also deeply sad when losing their loved ones.
Another characteristic trait of elephants is the way they show grief. They pay tribute to the deceased ones by mourning them for days.
Did you know that elephants actually visit the bones of their loved ones for years?
This shows how strongly they connect to their family, just like humans do.
2. Pigs
Multiple studies show that pigs are actually more intelligent than we would have thought. They are also able to express many emotions like happiness, stress, or even empathy.
Pigs are social creatures capable of creating strong friendships, this reflects in their grieving the passing of their companions.
They don’t only enjoy the company of their own kind, but also seek human connections.
3. Dolphins
There are many cases of dolphins helping people escape shark attacks or guide strained animals back into deep water.
Dolphins also deeply connect with each other and show affection through rubbing, swimming closely, or vocalizing.
Their intelligence, combined with the ability to feel various emotions, shows just how pure their hearts truly are.
4. Bluebirds
Of all the different emotions, who would have thought that this little bird is best at expressing jealousy?
As a male Bluebird leaves the nest in the search for food, the female sometimes steps out with another male. This scene doesn’t go unnoticed that easily.
You won’t believe how jealous the male actually gets when it sees this! This situation quickly turns into a full drama with snapping their beaks and ripping out feathers of their loved one. Ouch!
5. Dogs
All dog owners know that their pups are capable of showing many different feelings. From the joy of hearing words like “walk” or “park”, to hiding upon hearing “bath”.
It’s such an entertainment to observe their fun ways of showing these feelings.
Not only that, dogs are also capable of understanding and recognising human emotions. For instance, if the owner is under stress, their dog might try to cheer them up with cuddling or playing.
Maybe that’s why dogs are among the most beloved pets!
6. Rats
A recent study discovered that rats are actually capable of feeling empathy.
The experiment observed whether rats would choose to help a locked up companion or eat chocolate chips. Most of them quickly learned to open the doors to help their fellow rats.
However, if the trapped rats were strangers, very few would choose to help. Yikes!
But hey, passing up chocolate? That’s definitely a tough choice, right?