When posting this back in 2013, I had a somewhat complicated relationship with the ideas of "maverick biologist" Marc Bekoff, hence the curious reference to him and the magpie funerals.
"Animal Odd Couples" is a documentary about
animal emotions in general and strange animal relationships in particular. A
goat helping a blind horse, a deer adopting a blind Golden Retriever, a
Labrador from a rescue making friends with an orphaned cheetah...you get the
picture. My favourite: a black cat and a barn owl. Thank heavens I'm not
superstitious, ha ha. One of the scientists featured is the maverick Marc
Bekoff, who could broadly be considered "New Age". Magpie funerals,
anyone? Superstitious, much?
But sure, I don't doubt that animals have emotions, including emotional friendships. If evolution is true, we should expect both a certain continuum and sharp breaks. It seems some people still have a problem with that continuum thing. Besides, if some animals are drawn to humans, why can't different animal species be drawn to each other? What's the deep mystery, really?
The subject of odd animal friendships is often sensationalized in the media, but this documentary is pretty solid, and almost a bit "boring". Three stars.
But sure, I don't doubt that animals have emotions, including emotional friendships. If evolution is true, we should expect both a certain continuum and sharp breaks. It seems some people still have a problem with that continuum thing. Besides, if some animals are drawn to humans, why can't different animal species be drawn to each other? What's the deep mystery, really?
The subject of odd animal friendships is often sensationalized in the media, but this documentary is pretty solid, and almost a bit "boring". Three stars.
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