I should start a series of these, for I know I’ve posted a fair few videos of playful interactions between members of different species, including the world-famous “Barn Owl vs. Basement Cat”. Here are a kangaroo and a lemur playing tag; the YouTube caption is this:
Bug and Lolli play tag at Exotic Experience in Orlando
http://www.exoticexperience.net
When I see videos like this, always wonder what is going through these animals’ minds. Surely the concept of “fun” must be in there somewhere.
h/t: Steve in Oakland
My previous cat, Henry, did this sort of thing (more like hide-n-seek really) with my friend’s 3-year-old girl. She’d catch his attention then run into the next room; he’d find her, then the roles would reverse. It was a hoot to watch especially when he’d occasionally look back to see if she was still after him. If he were capable of snickering, I think he would have.
In the rural area where I live, it isn’t unusual to see deer and occasionally elk wondering around, nibbling grass and then moving on. I can’t say I’ve seen the sort of behavior as exhibited in the video above except for one time. Only it was a fawn all alone in the little cemetery down the hill from my house, bounding, dancing and leaping among the shaded headstones in the morning.
What a fun backyard!
It reminds me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AZn5nWIj_g
Having a horse rub its soft nose on you is indeed a beautiful experience!
The first video I linked was a gibbon and a couple of lion cubs… I accidentally embedded the second.
And I am also reminded of the rats “laughing” to being tickled.
It seems a sense of play or frivolity is common to mammals.
The Owl and the Pussycat is one of my all time favorites!
Me too!
Stravinsky!
And here’s Moe the Crow and Cathy the Kitten, for those of you who haven’t seen it:
Excellent!
Recall the lioness & the gazelle?
Wonder what these two are thinking too.
Ooops, sorry, I embedded this by accident.