• Question: do some animals of a species not like other animals of a different species?

    Asked by jessc to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 15 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      While some species have an in-built aversion to others (think of any scary predator and their prey – they will never get on!) it is quite possible for unrelated species to get on.

      There are loads of examples of cases of different species helping out in the wild (birds grooming elephants for example) and yes, even cats and dogs have been known to get along in some cases (I have been asked about this lots!).

      An important side note – a lion doesn’t attack an antelope because it doesn’t ‘like’ it – it’s brain is programmed to attack it for food, for these species it’s not about liking, it’s about nature and surviving!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      With animals it is not a question of liking or disliking another species in the same way humans may react, it is just a natural behaviour for the animals and nothing personal. There are plenty of animals who live together in compatible harmony.

      Animals lower in the food chain may avoid the animals higher up in the food chain, which is sensible when you think about it. For the prey it is about whether they feel threatened by another animal or not.

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