A species-by-species look at the incredible interactions that take place between scientists and their animal subjects, and the discoveries that have emerged about how and what animals think. Did you know that dolphins are self-aware, rats love to be tickled, chimps grieve, killer whales have cultures and octopuses have personalities? Did you know that dogs have extensive vocabularies and birds practise songs in their sleep? Voles love, jays plan ahead. A moth remembers its life as a caterpillar! Animal Wise takes us on a dazzling, surprising and enlightening exploration into the minds and emotions of animals, through the unusual, bright and committed researchers who study them. Looking at insects, parrots, crows, blue jays, fish, rats, elephants, dolphins, chimpanzees, wolves and dogs, Morell examines the amazing inroads made in the field of animal cognition; the unique personalities of the pioneering researchers involved; the moral and ethical issues raised; and the dilemmas involving how we can accurately uncover animals' cognitive abilities like memory, feelings, personality and self-awareness - traits that many in the 20th century felt were unique only to human beings.
By standing behaviourism on its head, Morell brings the world of nature brilliantly alive in a nuanced, deeply-felt appreciation of the human-animal bond. She shares her admiration for the men and women who have devoted their careers to demonstrating that these creatures have much more in common with us than we ever realised. Animal Wise is in the same league as the works of Jane Goodall, Cynthia Moss and Jeffrey Masson.