Thread: Why do animals

  1. #1

    Why do animals

    go off alone to die?

  2. #2
    A quote from the same question on Yahoo answers.
    It is instinctive for most animals to hide and find solitude when they are very sick, injured, or dying. There are two main reasons for this. First of all, the animal may want to find a safe place to hide and recover. If a sick animal remained out in the open, it could easily be picked off by a predator. But by sneaking off somewhere to hide, the animal is more likely to avoid predators, and able to get much needed rest without having to worry about its safety. Remember, there are times when an animal will seperate itself from others, get better, and then rejoin the group. They don't always 'go off to die' like people say.

    The second major reason is to protect other members of the herd, family, or whatever group the animal may be a part of. In the wild, especially, an injured or sick animal is a major threat to the group as a whole. A sick animal may infect other members of the herd, or may attract predators that can then kill not only the sick individual, but healthier ones as well. This behavior can be seen often in animals such as cattle and elk. It's a truly remarkable thing; animals have an instinctive urge to isolate themselves when sick or hurt and in doing so protect the other members of their group.

    To a lesser extent, this may also explain why cats and dogs will leave their owners. It could be that they have some residual instinct that makes them want to leave their adoptive families when they are seriously ill or dying. Its not that animals do not want other around; its just that they prefer peace, solitude, and to protect their group.

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by swineflu View Post
    go off alone to die?
    Not all do. Although generally, the ones that do do so because the rest of their group tell them to fuck off.
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  4. #4
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    Man may never know. Animals have their own instincts crafted over millions of years that mankind often ignores himself.

    It's sad watching animals do this, even if simple treatment can cure them.
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  5. #5
    It is instinctive for most animals to hide and find solitude when they are very sick, injured, or dying. There are two main reasons for this. First of all, the animal may want to find a safe place to hide and recover. If a sick animal remained out in the open, it could easily be picked off by a predator. But by sneaking off somewhere to hide, the animal is more likely to avoid predators, and able to get much needed rest without having to worry about its safety. Remember, there are times when an animal will seperate itself from others, get better, and then rejoin the group. They don't always 'go off to die' like people say.
    Wouldn't they have more chances to survive if they stayed with the group?

    That explanation just doesn't seem to cut it

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Knight Gil View Post
    Wouldn't they have more chances to survive if they stayed with the group?

    That explanation just doesn't seem to cut it
    I edited more from the answer in there. Explains a little bit more.

    Basically in animals like cattle, the sick and wounded are often easy targets for predators, and tend to slow the entire herd down. This is why they go off to hide. Sometimes they recover and find the herd again. Sometimes they do not.

    Here's a link on domesticated dogs: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5188955_na...lone-die_.html
    Last edited by Rukentuts; 2012-02-26 at 04:01 AM.

  7. #7
    would make sense to stick closer to the group

  8. #8
    Bloodsail Admiral Scrabblet's Avatar
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    They could be rejected by the group, or simply feel it'll be better to just leave the group to go without them.

  9. #9
    Because even animals know it's bad to be a burden on a group. To expect people to make their lives harder to tend to yours is pointless.

  10. #10
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    Some animals understand what is approaching, and take the time to prepare in that way for death. It is heartbreaking to watch.

  11. #11
    Merely a Setback Adam Jensen's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Knight Gil View Post
    Wouldn't they have more chances to survive if they stayed with the group?

    That explanation just doesn't seem to cut it
    Not if it's an infectious disease.
    Putin khuliyo

  12. #12
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    I remember watching a documentary on TV some time ago, can't remember the animal, but it was in the desert. This pack was looking for food, and were digging holes in the ground for shelter if they were to be attacked while looking for food. Another animal then occupied their hole to lay eggs, and one of the animals from the pack went over to the animal who had stolen their shelter hole to fight it off. The animal from the pack ended up getting seriously injured, and when the pack had to leave, the whole pack slowed down so the injured one could follow up.

    The pack and the injured one soon realised that they wouldn't be able to make it back to their home before dark, and in the final minutes of the injured one's life, one by one the pack came over to nurture and soothe the injured one. When the injured one realised there was nothing to be done, he went away from the pack to signalize that they had to keep moving instead of staying with him, because he was slowing them down, potentially putting them in danger of predators. He walked away from the pack, laid down and died, and the pack moved on.

    Gotta admire animals.

  13. #13
    I agree fully with what Rukentuts linked. Pretty much scientifically proven.
    For example: my last dog, the most loyal pet I've had, stayed by my side for 15 + years. When his time came near, he kept trying to get away from me to crawl under the back deck. He knew his time had come, and he knew that he had wanted to pass alone, and away from me. It's driven by an instinct, to not spread disease or sickness to others, and not attract predators to the group.
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  14. #14
    Warchief Lupinemancer's Avatar
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    It is instinctive for most animals to hide and find solitude when they are very sick, injured, or dying. There are two main reasons for this. First of all, the animal may want to find a safe place to hide and recover. If a sick animal remained out in the open, it could easily be picked off by a predator. But by sneaking off somewhere to hide, the animal is more likely to avoid predators, and able to get much needed rest without having to worry about its safety. Remember, there are times when an animal will seperate itself from others, get better, and then rejoin the group. They don't always 'go off to die' like people say.

    The second major reason is to protect other members of the herd, family, or whatever group the animal may be a part of. In the wild, especially, an injured or sick animal is a major threat to the group as a whole. A sick animal may infect other members of the herd, or may attract predators that can then kill not only the sick individual, but healthier ones as well. This behavior can be seen often in animals such as cattle and elk. It's a truly remarkable thing; animals have an instinctive urge to isolate themselves when sick or hurt and in doing so protect the other members of their group.

    To a lesser extent, this may also explain why cats and dogs will leave their owners. It could be that they have some residual instinct that makes them want to leave their adoptive families when they are seriously ill or dying. Its not that animals do not want other around; its just that they prefer peace, solitude, and to protect their group.
    Once again a perfect example that Animals are way more clever then Humans.
    However, I'm not sure Animals actually know about Death, and as said above, isolate to recover, not knowing they might not recover at all and dies. And once death has come, there is nothing for them to worry about, as they ceases to exists, (only the body remains), and what happens to them (or their group) afterwards, they won't ever know about.
    Last edited by Lupinemancer; 2012-02-26 at 08:11 PM.

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