Humans are not the only social animal. At the beginning of 2001, Franz de Waal published his work on a group of chimpanzees in the Arnhem zoo, in the Netherlands. He showed the existence of elaborate and subtle rites, which, according to him, revealed a political organisation.
This fuelled the foundation of an argument much debated in today’s scientific world. Man would therefore no longer stand as the only “political animal” as defined by Aristotle. Schemes, coalitions, and mediation are all aspects of chimpanzee behaviour.
Biologists have even realised that some traits of character used by politicians to fulfil their ambitions can be found in other animal species. Domination, alliance-building, seduction and manipulation are forms of intelligence no longer monopolised by man. Barriers continue to fall as discoveries on animal societies throughout the world progress.
Documentary: Animals Like Us - Animal Politics
Directed by: Guillaume Poyet
Production: Saint Thomas Productions
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#documentary #animalintelligence #animals #fulldocumentary #freedocumentary #chimpanzee #politics #diplomacy #social #biology
4 апр 2023
