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From: shafto@aristotle.ils.nwu.edu (Eric Shafto)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Animal planning
Message-ID: <1850@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu>
Date: 24 May 91 15:02:47 GMT
References: <17580001@hpfcdj.HP.COM>
Sender: news@ils.nwu.edu
Organization: The Institute for the Learning Sciences
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sjk@hpfcdj.HP.COM (Steve Kommrusch) writes:
> 
> Howdy netland,
> 
> Some friends of mine and I were wondering about the particulars of
> planning in animals.  The only examples of animal planning which we
> are aware of involve actions taken in response to a current desire.
> And we were wondering if there are examples of animals planning for
> a future desire that is clearly NOT instinctive.
> 
> For example, I have heard of an experiment where a banana was hung
> high above the floor and a monkey (chimp?) had to arrange boxes
> so as to reach the banana.  This is a good example of planning for
> a current desire (the monkey wanted the banana).
> 

Unfortunately, I can't remember where I read this, but I've been
meaning to ask someone if it was true for quite a while, anyway.

Supposedly, some researchers following a chimp troop heard some
strange chimp noises coming from another troop.  They followed
the noise, and found the troop gathered outside the den of some
large cat (Leopard?).

The three biggest males were standing just outside the entrance,
yelling and waving their arms, apparantly to intimidate the leopard.
Eventually, they started darting in and out of the den, and finally
one of them emerged with a newly born cub, which they then played
with until it was dead, and they all left.

I cannot conceive of any rationale for that behavior except
planning.  Of course, it is an evolutionary advantage to do this,
so it *could* be instinctual, but I don't know how likely that
seems.

Anyone have better information?
--
*Eric Shafto             * Sometimes, I think we are alone.  Sometimes I  *
*Institute for the       * think we are not.  In either case, the thought *
*    Learning Sciences   * is quite staggering.                           *
*Northwestern University *     -- R. Buckminster Fuller                   *