Blog #134--Interspecies Cooperation More Prevalent Than Assumed

Scientists and Nature enthusiasts have long known about symbiotic relationships between species that help both parties survive in a difficult world. The close relationship between a clown fish and sea anemone is one example, and the honey badger and honey badger guide bird’s cooperation to obtain honey is another. But thanks in part to a larger population density and technology which allows us to communicate our observations with the rest of the world, we are discovering many more examples of cross-species interactions.

Some of these examples contradict long-held assumptions about how Nature works. For example, a goat was placed in the enclosure of an Amur tiger living at the Far Eastern Safari Park in Primorsky Krai, Russia. The goat was to be the Tiger’s dinner, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the brave goat went up to the Tiger and befriended it.

One can assume the tiger knew it would be fed regularly and simply wasn’t hungry at the time. But their relationship continued long enough to discount that possibility. One can also assume the tiger is fairly submissive, if not by birth at least by extended confinement. Perhaps it has lost its hunting instinct, but it is still there somewhere below the surface and can be called upon when needed. Perhaps something else entirely is happening.

A similar story occurred recently in Germany. A wild boar came out of a forest to befriend a herd of eight cattle. They now run together, like fast friends. There is no doubt the boar is safer running with domesticated cattle than battling potential predators elsewhere, but we cannot prove that is the reason for its behavior. And why did the cattle return affection toward the boar and allow it to be a part of their group? If anything, the energy of a wild boar might be more direct than that of the cattle, so one might think the cattle would be fearful of the boar’s presence despite their size differences.

In another case, three cheetahs captured a small, young antelope but didn’t eat it. Instead, they patted it on the head with their paws and rubbed faces to show affection, just like they would with their own mother or each other. The antelope was eventually able to recognize an escape route and departed, but it did so unharmed. One might suggest the cheetahs weren’t hungry; but if true, why did they bother to capture it in the first place? Perhaps their maternal instincts took over, treating the young antelope as if it was their own offspring. A similar story happened recently with a couple lionesses that captured but didn’t eat a young antelope.

Regardless of the reason, there are numerous examples of interspecies relationships. I described a couple of them in my book “It’s a Secret, So Pass It On: a Toolbox For Life.” One that especially impressed me was the friendship between a dog and a large goldfish in a koi pond. The dog eagerly ran up to the pond to see the fish, and it reciprocated by coming partially out of the water to be closer to the dog. If they were humans, their behavior might be analogous to neighbors visiting across a fence separating their two homes. I can’t prove they were communicating, but there’s no doubt in my mind they were, and pleasurably I might add.

The Disney animated movie “The Fox and the Hound” described a friendship between a young fox and a young hunting dog. They had much in common and enjoyed playing together. But when puberty set in and their adult instincts took over, their friendship was adversely affected since the dog was bred to hunt foxes. Just like with human children, prepubescent animals share many traits with each other and get along far better than they do as adults. This is among the reasons people give for these temporary relationships.

The entire universe and everything in it is made from the same stuff in the same way. The most logical explanation for interspecies relationships is the fact we are connected with the rest of Nature and have more in common with other species than we have differences. When strong attractions are experienced, we are at a loss to prevent them. Even if we find ourselves in relationships that are more exception than rule, a positive interaction makes up for any preconceived biases. Commonality and electromagnetic attraction are major cause of this phenomenon.

Call me crazy if you wish, but we can’t complete this discussion without including another possibility. More than a billion people on Earth believe in reincarnation. Despite our denials, we are not significantly different or apart from the rest of Nature. Perhaps we can’t prove we have past and future lives as humans or as other species, but we also can’t prove we don’t experience life from many perspectives, including those of other life forms or even inanimate objects. Maybe the goat and tiger, the dog and fish and the other species mentioned above knew each other from previous lives together.

Everyone occasionally meets someone for whom a natural connection is felt. If we were told we knew them in a previous life, it would be fairly easy to believe if the connection is strong enough. Whether it is true or not, we can’t discount it as a possibility. Simply acknowledging that interspecies relationships exist and sometimes prosper helps us develop more of a spiritual basis for understanding our role in the grand scheme of things.

I for one am grateful we are hearing about more of these interactions. They give us much to consider as we continue on our path to understanding and oneness with our creator.

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