Page 125 - Devotion Among Animals Revealing the Work of God

Cooperation and Solidarity Among Animals

If a female grey whale is injured, one or more males will come
to her aid. They keep the female on the surface in order to let her
123
breathe and protect her from killer whales.
Instead of running when attacked, musk oxen will form a de-
fensive circle. All members of the herd move slowly backwards,
never turning their backs on the predators until all have taken up
their positions in the circle. Their calves will be in the center of the
circle, hiding under their mother's long fur. The males will keep the
calves in the middle providing them with total protection.
Occasionally, one bull will charge the predators before again with-
124
drawing to his position in the circle.
Very interesting examples of cooperation are also seen in hunt-
ing. American white pelicans, for instance, always hunt in teams.
Locating a suitable bay, they form a semi-circle facing the land,
plunging in the water periodically and driving the fish ahead of

Musk oxen, each weighing 350 to 400
kg, (770-880 lb.) form a defensive
wall between the predators and their
own young. In the case of an attack,
they step backwards to form a defen-
sive circle with the young in the mid-
dle as seen in this picture on the side.
This provides an effectively safe de-
fense for the young.

123