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Mice Join the List of Animals that Provide First Aid to Injured or Unconscious Companions
When placed in a cage with an unresponsive companion, mice will attempt to wake them, going so far as unblocking their airway.
Our creativity and unrelenting need for progress may set us apart from the rest of Earth’s animal kingdom, but research reminds us that our emotional behaviors are less distinct. Instead, the more we look, the more we see that many other species seem to experience the same emotions we do — fear, love, joy, sadness, and more — and they behave similarly to us in response.
For instance, a desire to help others is one of our more selfless human qualities — but it isn’t ours alone. Many animals, especially mammals, behave in ways that aid others. In fact, researchers recently discovered such behavior is prevalent even among laboratory mice.
First Aid in the Animal Kingdom
There’s already a growing pile of reports documenting animals that try to help struggling, injured, or incapacitated members of their species. Even some insects will try to help others. Take ants, for example, which will secrete antibiotics for their injured nest mates.
