What Does Animal Instinct Mean?

Haven’t we seen cats chasing mice and small birds? We think it to be “bullying of weaker ones” and we allow it. Animals have inborn instincts and the chasing of a mouse by a cat is one of those instincts. Like Nyan instinct present in us makes us want to chase mice.

Animals possess these behaviours by birth. Take for instance the cuckoo bird, it does build its own nest. Instead, it lays eggs in other birds’ nests. Cuckoo mainly lays eggs on the nests of wren-warbler. The parent bird who is the nest’s owner unintentionally warms the eggs. Even though it may feel like the number of eggs has increased. The baby cuckoo coming from the eggs drops the other eggs from the nest. Cuckoo chicks hatch 2 to 3 days earlier than Warbler and Warren chicks. Later the parent cuckoo gradually raises the baby cuckoo; the baby cuckoo leaves this nest as soon as it can fly. As the baby cuckoo remains separated from its parent before birth, it could not have; learnt this behaviour from its parents. It acts according to its inborn “instinct Memory”. However, it cannot handle everything by its instinct memory. Small birds cannot sing well. Firstly, it begins with chirping, then it phrases a chirping sound. The combination of phrases becomes songs. In some cases, learning is required to exhibit instinctive memory. What are the other animal instincts? Let us see the instincts of various animals. Like cats, dogs are also deeply associated with humans. It is vital to know these 3 instincts while understanding dogs.

• Obedient And Influential Instinct,
• Gregarious Instinct
• Combative Instinct.

Gregarious instinct is the instinct to live in a herd. There is an older among the herd and dogs have always by comparing their ability. Dogs who choose to live with humans are fellow beings of the same herd. Likewise, superior ones ensure that subordinates feed well and protect against enemies. The subordinate ones, to be obedient to superior ones, have equilibrium in herd life. In other words, obedient and influential instinct has to be present to maintain herd consistency. Being wild, only the leaders shall fulfil the instinct of leaving behind their descendants. To raise its level of order, it shall combat around. Instinctive actions of animals are closely related to their growth and living. Conflictive instinct is its source.

 Honey bees and termites also live in herds and they have a division of roles by instinct. In the case of honeybees, the division of roles is between the queen bee which lays eggs and the worker bees. Worker bees are workaholics. They collect flower nectar and prepare honey. And they convey flower location through their figure-eight dance. They secrete royal jelly and feed it to all bee larvae. When a new queen bee is born, the older queen bee becomes a worker bee and does work along with them. The worker bees convey the direction, distance and suitability of the new hive through dance. When the temperature inside the hive becomes low, worker bees release body heat and warm the hive. Likewise, when the temperature inside the hive is high, they bring cold water from outside; by flapping their wings the hive is cooled. Such cooperative work cannot be taught by anyone. It is known only through instinct.

The Salmon fish migrates and grows in the wide sea; later they return to breed and lay eggs in the very same river or stream in which they were born. bird chicks initially have an instinct of following the bigger-looking birds. The salmon can behave in this way by gathering external information. If the bird chick sees any parent bird (bigger size than itself) besides its own, it assumes the bigger bird to be its parent. What about cats? As far as cats are concerned, they do not recognise mice as their innate prey. If cats and mice are gowns together, they could live on cordial terms. Cat chases mouse due to the haunting instinct of cat. Small birds and mice can be easily caught by cats. Besides, the trickle in front of eyes and escape. Cats consider the escaping one as prey and the confronting one as the enemy. If a mouse confronts the cat may run off or try to escape.

We have been talking about other’s affairs but humans have instincts, too. Generally, humans do not act according to their instinct. Humans have instincts for individual maintenance regarding appetite, sleep, race, reservation, sexual desire, group desire etc. human brain is divided into four main sections: the brainstem, cerebral limbic system, cerebellum and cerebrum. The brainstem and cerebellum regulate motion function. The medial cortex functions as life support. The cerebral limbic system is concerned with food appetite and sexual desire. Pleasure, discomfort, and anger are regulated by the cerebral limbic system. Humans differ from other animals in their intelligence and reasoning in the development of the cerebral lateral cortex. The cerebellum, the cerebral medial cortex and the cerebral limbic systems are present in other animals too. It takes three years for the cerebral lateral cortex to develop and control instincts. Therefore, human babies sleep and eat at any time according to their instincts. Humans thanks to the cerebral lateral cortex.