Humans Exploiting Animals Due to the Difference Between Instincts and Intelligence

People and animals interact on many different levels on a daily basis. People respond to these animal interactions in different ways. Some people think that the way animals react are based on one of two things, either instincts or intelligence. Animals have both instincts and intelligence with each species determining the ratio. Instincts are based on natural tendencies to react a certain way in a specific situation, while intelligence is based on knowledge learned. Instincts also represent the very primal being, the caveman, where the goal is to survive. Intelligence often represents the ability to understand, use logic, or even feel emotions. Humans put these ideas on animals to justify certain actions. Humans are more likely to exploit animals that depend on instincts than animals that depend on intelligence.

When animals react to their environments in a way that was not learned, they reacted out of instinct. Instinct comes from a scientific background. These instinctual behaviors are often linked to genes that are hereditary or passed down from the parents to the child. The genes that control instincts change to allow the animal to survive in its environment and compete with other species. Instincts are not about thinking, but rather about a programmed response to protect the animals’ survival. Rachel Carson wrote about instincts in her essay “Tides." In one section, Carson writes about the Grunion and how it adapted to the tidal rhythm. “It has so adapted its spawning habits to the tidal cycle that the very existence of the race depends on the precision of this adjustment. “ (Carson, 344) The Grunion uses its instincts to lay its eggs on the beach and continue its race. Another species that relies heavily on instincts for spawning is Salmon. Salmon are hatched from eggs in rivers. They travel downstream to the sea and wait until they are sexually mature to travel upstream where they were hatched to lay and fertilize eggs. This is a very instinctual behavior. The reproductive cycle depends on the salmon making the trip upstream to lay its eggs using their sort of homing device to lead them back to their birthplace. This is their reaction to their environment that is not learned and therefore an instinct.

When animals react to their environment in a way that was learned, they reacted using intelligence. Intelligence varies greatly from species to species. Intelligence in animals may not be based on logic like it is with humans, however it is based on observation, imitation, and repetition. Adult animals pass down these intelligent behaviors to the young to not just survive, but also to live better. These behaviors come from more advanced thinking than just instinct. Unlike Rachel Carson, Alexander Petrunkevitch wrote about the intelligence of the Digger Wasp in his essay “ The Spider and the Wasp." Petrunkevitch states, “ The wasp acts like an intelligent animal. This is not to say that instinct plays no part or that she reasons as man does. But her actions are to the point; they are not automatic and can be modified to fit the situation.” (Petrunkevitch, 362) Another species that uses their intellect instead of their instincts are bears, specifically the Grizzly Bears found in North America. These intelligent creatures have learned to take advantage of a certain time of year. Bears are a hibernating species, which means that they must store up fat deposits in order to survive the winter. In order to do this bears have learned to hunt for salmon during the salmon runs. Many of these bears live near rivers in which salmon lay their eggs. When the salmon make their way upstream, the bears hunt. The salmon are numerous and weakened by their struggle to fight the current allow the bears to gather and eat extraordinary numbers. These bears even distinguish the difference between the fat in the fish and the meat. The bears only eat the fat because the meat burns too many calories when it is digested. The bear cubs learn this behavior from their parents through observation and practice. This behavior is the result of the bears reacting to their environment, the salmon run, and using their intelligence to take advantage.

Humans react to animal instincts very differently than to animal intelligence. Humans are known for using animals in a variety of ways, however an animal with intelligences tends to be treated better. Dogs can be trained to guide blind people through life. Those dogs are treated like people, better than pets and are rewarded for their intelligence. However, animals like chickens are exploited for their eggs. Farmers cram houses full of chickens and treat them less than desirable all the while taking their eggs to sell. Chickens are not the most intelligent animals in the world, however no one ever said that they were brainless and had no feeling. Humans allow dogs, cats, birds, and such to live in the house; yet, cows and pigs and chickens must live outside. Dogs and cats give humans companionship while one could say that cows and pigs give humans something much more useful, food. People tend to justify the eating of animals by saying that the animal is unintelligent and cannot feel or know what is happening. However, using this theory than if there were a higher trophic level in our food chain, it would be just fine to eat unintelligent humans for they could not feel or know what was happening to them. I am positive that they would not agree to this statement. Humans find it completely acceptable to eat salmon by the boatload, but bears on the other hand, not so much. Bears show qualities that humans can associate with while salmon do not. Bears show intelligence while salmon show natural instincts. Connecting to bears as well as accepting their intelligence makes humans much more leery to exploit these creatures. In fact, Grizzly Bears are on the endangered species list in order to protect them. Humans react to animal intelligence by associating with them and therefore are much more likely to not exploit them. However, animal instincts do not evoke the same reaction. Humans tend to view these animals as natural resource but on earth for humans to take advantage of.


Works Cited

Carson, Rachel. The Sea Around Us. New York, NY: Oxford UP, 1951.
Petrunkevitch, Alexander. "The Spider and the Wasp." Scientific American Aug. 1952.

Picture Credits:

Salmon Run

Bears Fishing

Bear and Salmon