Why Humans Love Animals Throughout history, no species has ever been as fascinated with its fellow creatures

as human beings. We have hunted animals, eaten them, raised them, bred them, domesticated them, drawn them, composed songs and poetry about them, and loved them for millennia. But why? What is behind this intense fascination we've usually had with other creatures, whether fuzzy and cute or scary and dangerousor each? The thrill. Absolutely nothing compares using the thrill you get whenever you see a big animal in its natural environment for the very first time. We adore the excitement of encountering bears, large cats, deer, eagles, owls, and other herbivores and predators. Although its ill-advised to do this within the wild, we love to watch them unseen, our breath caught in our throats and our hearts filled with wonder. Just seeing the majesty and power of these remarkable creatures as soon as can be a life-changing experience. Another thing that makes an encounter with a large animal in the wild so memorable will be the fact that it is so rare very couple of people have the privilege of encountering these animals anywhere, let alone in the wild. We love to go to zoos to see big animals we'd never see within the wild, from a safe vantage point behind glass or bars. Even seeing them in captivity can give us the exact same sense of excitement. Curiosity. What do animals do when we're not looking? How do they behave when they're pleased, sad, scared, angry, or hungry? How do they hunt, what do they eat, and what can they teach us about being alive? A lot of of us are thirsty for knowledge about animals and their lives. We want to know how they're similar from us and how they're various. Maybe if we knew all theres to know about other animals, we could much better comprehend ourselves as a speciesand have a clearer picture of where we came from. We adore zoos and other animal facilities for the chance they give us to understand about animals and see them close-upsome zoos even let you shadow a zookeeper for a day. It is difficult to find anybody who wouldnt adore to have an opportunity to understand more about animals each rare and numerous. A sense of wonder. As a child, did you have a preferred animalone that seemed so stunning, outlandish, potent, or special you had been convinced it had to have magical powers? Some of us fell in love with the expressive beauty of horses, some of us with bizarre and outlandish animals like elephants and giraffes, and some of us with potent hunters like lions or wolves. We've always secretly wondered what it would be like to run like a cheetah, fly like an eagle, swing like a monkey, or swim like a dolphin. From the biggest whales towards the tiniest amoebas, animals have usually filled us having a sense of wonder. And with their physical abilities frequently far beyond ours, animals truly do have special powers. As a species, animals have inspired us to understand to fly in planes and go under the sea in submarinesbut we can by no means do it with the grace of a bird or

a fish. Perhaps thats why so many people care about protecting animals from pollution and poaching. If we lost the fantastic selection of animal species on our planet, we'd kill humanitys sense of wonder and inspiration, as well. Making a connection. So many of us have loved a petwhether a dog, a cat, a horse, a parakeet, or a hamster. Anyone whos ever owned a pet will tell you that animals have feelings and emotions, their own intelligence, and their own way of communicatingand that they skilled a strong emotional connection with their pet. We love that connection we have with our pets, and many of us believe its possible to foster a connection with any animal, regardless of how different from us. We dream of forging bonds with lions and tigers, obtaining to know monkeys and horses, and communicating with dolphins and whales. We love when a fierce bird of prey lands on our arm with out hesitation, when a cat cuddles trustingly in our laps, when a horse nickers to us like hes greeting an old friend. Numerous animal-lovers will let you know that animals make wonderful friendsthey dont lie, they do not judge, and they do not hate. Regardless of your reason for craving that connection with an animal, most in our species do. When we're communicating with an animal, we humans really feel much less alone. Within the end, it is hard to say exactly why we adore animals. But humans have usually wanted to get as close to animals as possibleand not just to hunt them. Animals have always inspired our imaginations, thrilled our spirits, and tugged at our heartstrings. It is a partnership which will continue so long as humans share space on earth with other living creatures. one piece