In life there are people who are exceptionally good and kind to animals too. From time immemorial Humans have always exhibited a fascination with animals. In the present busy world, people may have less time and the finer things in life are not appreciated. Many are not able to appreciate nature. The chirping birds, squirrels are found lesser as their habitat is lost. Some find solace in having pets. Some would quip that humanity is slowing losing their tolerance and first should love fellow human beings before patronising pets. Going by available statistics, Cat tops the list of pets followed by Dogs, Fishes, small mammals, small birds, reptiles, amphibians and equine – but keeping a pet would be more driven by one’s liking than by any empirical evidence. There are some peculiar pets as well.
Monkeys, chimpanzees, and humans are primates. Primates are mammals that are characterized by their advanced cognitive development and abilities, grasping hands and feet, and forward-facing eyes, along with other characteristics. Some primates (including some great apes and baboons) are typically terrestrial (move on the ground) versus arboreal (living in the trees), but all species of primates have adaptations to climb trees. Millions of years ago, primate ancestors evolved different defining characteristics from one another, branching into many species within different groups.
In 1863 T.A. Huxley made a scientific attempt to the problem of man’s origin in his book “Man’s Place in Nature” and established that our closest relatives are apes. Later, in 1871 Charles Darwin published his idea about man’s ancestor in the book “The Descent of Man”. He did not know any human fossil.
Hunter-gatherer societies dominated early human civilization, creating opportunities for human involvement and interactions with the animals in their environment. It is likely these first interactions were centered on humans obtaining resources from animals, such as meat, bones, and skins. However, as humans continued to coexist with animals, humans found similarities between themselves and the animals they encountered. Humans also became more invested in the activities of animals, such as identifying migratory patterns, food sources, and behavior. Animals were eventually included in cultural ceremonies through worship, sacrifice, and symbolism.
The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship between people and animals. It's influenced by behaviors essential to the mental, physical, and social health and wellbeing of both. People around the World cherish their pets. Millions are spent on pet maintenance and food – it is not just about spending habits. The ways in which pets interact with their owners on a daily basis show what pivotal positions they hold, and how today, people treat their pets the way they might treat another person. The New York Times reports that 70 percent of pet owners say they sometimes sleep with their pets, 65 percent buy Christmas gifts for their pets, 23 percent cook special meals for their pets, and 40 percent of married women with pets say they get more emotional support from their pets than from their spouses.
Never overlook the human-animal bond as a one-way street. Pets need their owners to meet their basic needs of food, water, shelter, and welfare. But, humans can gain a different kind of wellbeing from their companion animals. Research shows that pets can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, raise blood oxytocin levels, and, in some cases, may reduce direct pain.
Here is a very special bonding between a woman and her monkey – these people may even stay without eating but would provide their pets all care, food, clothes and everything.
Moving away, a ship chandler is a retail dealer who supplies things needed by the ships. They need to stock a wide variety of goods, including food, cleaning supplies, marine electronics, and other sundries people may need to smoothly run a ship. Few decades back when fax, long distance calls were very costly, Telex was an official means of communication. A Russian vessel called at a small port and the Captain wanted a pet monkey. The Chandler agent in trying to be brief telexed ‘Russian Captain like monkey’………..
With regards – S Sampathkumar
3.7.2024