The recent report that more than 20 cows appear to have committed suicide by leaping off high cliffs in a lemming-like fashion in the Swiss town of Lauterbrunnen (http://www.neatorama.com/tag/lauterbrunnen/) deserves a little more analysis. The first thing to note is that 'suicide' is not common in the Animal Kingdom. Even the lemmings have been misinterpreted as their cliff-leaping is actually a reflection of their powerful migratory urge to local overcrowding and the topology of Scandinavia ('V'-shaped valleys, leading down to fjords). Animals may take risks when they have to (e.g. prey attacking predators that have cornered them or starving birds ignoring the cat) but they are mostly concerned with passing on copies of their genes to subsequent generations. It seems much more likely that the cows are falling from the ski-slopes because of some other factor such as erosion of pathways, a need to roam further to more exposed locations to obtain grasses or disturbance within their habitat. I really doubt that they have the 'blues'.
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Dignitas Cows?
The recent report that more than 20 cows appear to have committed suicide by leaping off high cliffs in a lemming-like fashion in the Swiss town of Lauterbrunnen (http://www.neatorama.com/tag/lauterbrunnen/) deserves a little more analysis. The first thing to note is that 'suicide' is not common in the Animal Kingdom. Even the lemmings have been misinterpreted as their cliff-leaping is actually a reflection of their powerful migratory urge to local overcrowding and the topology of Scandinavia ('V'-shaped valleys, leading down to fjords). Animals may take risks when they have to (e.g. prey attacking predators that have cornered them or starving birds ignoring the cat) but they are mostly concerned with passing on copies of their genes to subsequent generations. It seems much more likely that the cows are falling from the ski-slopes because of some other factor such as erosion of pathways, a need to roam further to more exposed locations to obtain grasses or disturbance within their habitat. I really doubt that they have the 'blues'.
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