A spate of animal behavior studies in the past few years underscores that we share a lot with our fellow creatures. We share their DNA, their intelligence and, as some findings have shown, their generosity. Species ranging from tiny insects to large primates engage in gift-giving behavior—for courtship, to ensure survival and sometimes for reasons we do not fully understand. In their 2009 book Wild Justice, Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce point out that "recent research is demonstrating that animals not only act altruistically, but also have the capacity for empathy, forgiveness, trust, reciprocity, and much more as well." As a hat tip to the holidays, we present a few of the other species that share in our spirit of giving.

» View the slide show of gift-giving animals

3 Comments

1. 1. noblelement 07:12 PM 12/29/11

   http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_nicklen_tales_of_ice_bound_wonderlands.html
   
   leopard seal doing the cat thing with a scuba diver. Watch this vid and skip to 10:53 to hear the guy talk about it.

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2. 2. pyam 11:28 AM 12/30/11

   Praising a cat for its kill is likely to reinforce the behavior. To stop the gift-giving, some cat experts say to just ignore the gift and neither praise nor punish your cat.
   
   Indoor cats are more Santa-like: one of mine used to leave his favorite stuffed toy duck or mouse in my bed.
   
   

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3. 3. 1oldsarg 02:39 PM 12/31/11

   I've suspected this for years. It reinforces my belief that cats consider humans hopelessly stupid dispensers of kibble and warmth. That's why they domesticated us in the first place.

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