This squirrel visits a hemlock snag at least once a day, where he rolls, jumps, and rubs himself all over the pungent hemlock bark. It's certainly enjoyable to him. . . anyone looking at the following photos will agree, but is that the only reason he engages in playful behavior? Might be. Ethologists such as Jonathan Balcombe has been exploring "animal pleasure" and its implications on animal welfare and behavior.
One ethologist who isn't afraid to tackle the complicated nature of animals is Jonathan Balcombe. His new book,
Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals makes the following key points:
- Animals are highly sentient, and sentience is the bedrock of ethics.
- Our current, might-makes-right relationship to animals is unethical and unsustainable.
- We are on the path to a new relationship to animals, defined by universal compassion
Listen to Jonathan talk on NPR about his new book, Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals, on the Diane Rehm Show
