LET’S FIND OUT ANIMAL LIFE WHAT IS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR MONIQUE VESCIA
Humans have always been fascinated by how animals behave In the past people survived by closely observing animal behavior Our ancestors had to defend themselves against wild creatures and capture them for food Today most people see wild animals in zoos more often than in nature INSTINCT AND LIFE LESSONS Humans and chimpanzees share many similar behaviors 4
Scientists observe animals both in the wild and in laboratories Scientists study two kinds of behavior in animals instinctive and learned Instinctive behavior is something an animal is born knowing how to do For example from birth baby spiders know how to build a web Other behaviors must be learned Cheetah cubs learn to hunt by watching their mother catch prey Learned behaviors can change over time In this way a species adapts to changes in its environment A species is a certain type or kind of animal or plant Animals of the same species share many of the same behaviors 5
