The bonds we share with animals are far stronger than many might think. These bonds go beyond the animals that live in our homes (shout out to my bestie cat Boo!).
When a dying zookeeper asked to have a final goodbye with the giraffes he cared for most of his life, it was clear friendships between humans and animals can be strong and long-lasting. (1)
Final Kiss
In 2014, a Dutch zookeeper known only by his first name, Mario, was suffering from terminal cancer. The 54-year-old was granted his dying wish by the Ambulance Wish Foundation. He wanted a final goodbye with the animals he had spent his career caring for at Diergaarde Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam, Holland. (1)
Mario was responsible for cleaning out the giraffes’ enclosure during his career at the zoo. He was transported in his hospital bed directly to the giraffe enclosure to spend some final moments with the animals he had come to love. (1)
One of the giraffes came to Mario’s side and kissed him in a telling scene that showed just how strong human/animal bonds can become. (1)
Animals Have Feelings
Although there has always been controversy whether animals have feelings or not, science does provide support emotions do exist. For example, scientists have discovered Orangutans have a sense of empathy and even show signs they each have their own individual personality. (2)
I became a true believer with a trip to the zoo almost 20-years ago.
A Zoo Experience
When my daughter was a newborn, I loaded her and my son into the car and headed to the zoo. We strolled through the park looking at the different animals while my daughter slept. When we reached the orangutans, we stopped to watch their lazy life, bright orange fur shining in the sun.
I held my daughter in my arms and knelt down beside my son to look into the display through the glass. I didn’t notice at first that there was a large female staring down at us from a platform up in the “trees.” She started to slowly make her way down to us and came right up to the window.
A Mother’s Love
The orangutan looked at us with what I can only describe as pained eyes. I had never seen an animal of this size up close before. A zookeeper joined us and asked me to show the orangutan my baby. I was surprised but held my daughter up so the orangutan could get a better look. The great ape slowly placed her hand on the window directly above my baby’s face. I looked into the ape’s eyes as she stared intently at my daughter. “She just lost her baby,” the zookeeper explained. I wept.
Emotions For Survival
Scientists at Bristol University feel it makes sense animals have emotions. They found that emotions could play a role in warning animals of danger, while also helping them make choices when they sense opportunities. (3)
“Animals’ emotions function as a ‘social glue’ and as ‘social catalysts’,” says scientist and author Marc Bekoff. He also believes animals who have suffered at the hands of humans experience pain and suffering. “What animals feel is more important than what they know when we consider what sorts of treatment are permissible,” he says. (3)
As for me, I have never looked at animals in the same way. I believe not only do they have emotions, but also feel love and loss just like us.
