Many people are convinced that animals are beings primitive which move only instincts. But those who houses have an animal without fluctuation will in the affirmative answer a question whether animals have an intelligence. And not for nothing, because to it there are many scientific confirmations.
Features of intelligence of animals
The intelligence of an animal differs from intelligence of the person and cannot be measured by usual tests for determination of the IQ level. Not to confuse instinctive behavior of animals with reasonable, it is necessary to understand that the instinct is an inherent ability, and intelligence – the ability acquired during knowledge of life.
For manifestation of mental abilities the animal needs obstacles in a way to achievement of a definite purpose. But, if, for example, the dog daily during life receives food from the bowl, then mental abilities in this case will not be shown. At an animal the intellectual actions can arise only to invent a new way of action for achievement of the goal. And this way for each certain animal will be individual. In fauna there are no universal rules.
Animals though have mental abilities, but they do not play a major role in their life. More they trust instincts, and use intelligence occasionally, and it is not fixed in their life experience and is not descended.
Examples of intellectual behavior of animals
Dog – the very first animal who was tamed by the person. She is considered the cleverest among all pets. Once the famous surgeon who lived in last century under the door found a dog with the injured extremity. He cured an animal and thought that the dog as a token of gratitude will remain with it. But the animal had other owner, and the first attachment was stronger, and the dog left. But what surprise of the surgeon when after a while on a threshold of his house he found the same dog who took to him other dog with the broken paw in hope that the doctor will help also it was. And what as manifestation of intelligence, it is possible to explain behavior of pack of dogs who a harmonious rank cross the road on the crosswalk while the people since the birth allocated with intelligence run across it in not put place. Not only dogs, but also other animals show the intelligence. Even ants are capable to solve very complex problems in case it is necessary to remember and transfer information on a rich source of food to the relatives. But manifestation of their mental capacities is also limited to it. The intelligence is not involved in other circumstances. It was noticed that swallows give alarm to the baby birds at the time of hatching when nearby nests there is a person. The baby bird stops knocking a beak on a shell until on a voice of parents does not understand that the danger passed. This example – the certificate that the intelligence at animals is shown as a result of life experience. Swallows did not adopt fear to the person at the parents, they learned to be afraid of it in the course of life. In the same way and rooks avoid the person with a gun since feel a gunpowder smell. But they could not adopt it at the ancestors because gunpowder was invented later, than rooks appeared. I.e. their fear is result of life experience too. Each owner of a cat, a dog, a parrot or a rat has a confirmation that his favourite has intelligence. It is clear, that animals it is not smarter than people, but they have other qualities which are valuable to the person.