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Why animals also seek teenage kicks
Jason G. Goldman looks at how certain adolescent animal behaviors remind us of risk-taking teenage humans. Research suggests there’s some evolutionary advantage to a species’ young walking the fine line of danger as a way to learn and become more successful adults:
Whether it’s inquisitive antelope following a cheetah around or older elephant males controlling the murderous, aggressive outbursts in younger males, the transition years to maturity are tough on many animals … by necessity.

Throughout the animal kingdom, adolescence is a tightrope act. As they gradually lose the care and protection they receive from their parents, young animals of any species must strike a delicate balance between risk and safety. If they play it too safe, they’ll suffer a lack of understanding about the dangers of the worlds in which they live. Too risky, and they might wind up served as a tasty snack for a hungry shark or cheetah or killed at the hands of their friends.

(via BBC - Future)
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Why animals also seek teenage kicks

Jason G. Goldman looks at how certain adolescent animal behaviors remind us of risk-taking teenage humans. Research suggests there’s some evolutionary advantage to a species’ young walking the fine line of danger as a way to learn and become more successful adults:

Whether it’s inquisitive antelope following a cheetah around or older elephant males controlling the murderous, aggressive outbursts in younger males, the transition years to maturity are tough on many animals … by necessity.

Throughout the animal kingdom, adolescence is a tightrope act. As they gradually lose the care and protection they receive from their parents, young animals of any species must strike a delicate balance between risk and safety. If they play it too safe, they’ll suffer a lack of understanding about the dangers of the worlds in which they live. Too risky, and they might wind up served as a tasty snack for a hungry shark or cheetah or killed at the hands of their friends.

(via BBC - Future)

Source: bbc.com

    • #science
    • #nature
    • #animal behavior
    • #teenagers
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