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Science Magazine Podcast
Farm animals show their smarts, and how honeyguide birds lead humans to hives
Dec 7, 2023
Researchers study cognition in farm animals in Germany. Honeyguide birds have distinct signals for different human honey hunters. The cooperative relationship between humans and honeyguide birds is explored, showcasing cultural co-evolution.
38:23
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- Farm animals, including goats, cows, and pigs, have cognitive abilities and can solve visual puzzles and form social bonds.
- Honeyguide birds and human honey hunters have a cultural coevolution, with honeyguides learning and responding to specific signals used by humans.
Deep dives
Understanding Cognition in Farm Animals
Researchers in northern Germany are studying cognition in farm animals such as goats, pigs, and cows. The facility they visited, the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology, aims to understand how the minds of livestock animals work and why knowledge about their cognitive abilities is limited. The researchers are exploring basic questions about emotions, memory, and social intelligence in farm animals. They have found that animals like goats can solve visual puzzles, remember sequences of images, and form social bonds with other cows. The research highlights the need to consider the mental and emotional lives of these animals and potentially improve their welfare on farms.
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