Page 123 - Devotion Among Animals Revealing the Work of God
P. 123

Antelopes and gazelles warn other animals of approaching danger
                                            by their distinctive jumping display.



             spond accordingly. These intelligent behaviors cannot be ignored.
             It's evidently impossible for an animal to figure out that it should
             warn the others of possible danger—and for them to understand its
             signal and respond accordingly. For these intelligent, rational be-
             haviors there is only one possible explanation: All their abilities and
             behavior have been taught to them! God teaches these animals their
             behaviors and makes them put it into practice. God, the Most
             Compassionate and the Most Merciful, creates everything, protects
             and sustains everything.


                 Animals Defending Themselves as One

                 Not only warning each other of dangers, animals living in com-
             munities also defend themselves against dangers en masse. For in-
             stance, small birds swarm around or "mob" predatory birds like
             hawks or owls that venture into their territory. By making a special
             clicking sound, they also call other birds into the area. The aggres-
             sive behavior these small birds display is usually enough to drive
                                117
             off predatory birds.
                 A flock of birds flying together provides protection for each in-
             dividual. Starlings fly in flocks with wide spaces in between. But
             when they see a hawk, they quickly close the gaps, making it nearly




                                            121
   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128