Nature's Hustlers

Can't live with them; can't live without them.

This is a story you'll want to hear. It's so out there and fascinating that it will impress you on a different level.

One day, I was walking around the marketplace in my city when I witnessed something extraordinary. I saw this cat crossing the street with a green leaf in his mouth, carrying it between his teeth. I didn't think much of it except that I thought it was a bit weird.

The next thing I knew, he went to the butcher store, where this man was selling fish. He had a leaf in his mouth as money, and the man returned him some fish in exchange for the leaf. Immediately after that transaction, the kitty happily crossed back down the street and went about his business, probably to munch a delicious piece of bass with his friends.

The man told me his name was Mickey, and he comes daily for fish and pays with a leaf. “He saw people paying me with something green and thought he could do the same.”

This cat had the presence of mind to understand that a green piece of something could purchase a fish. I guess they have excellent memory because they've been doing that since it first worked out. He added that it looks like he told his friends, too, because now, “I have one or two of them every few minutes. It's great!”

He continued, “His presence alone attracts people and benefits my business. I'm doing much better since he's been coming because I'm now selling fried fish sandwiches that people eat as they take videos of the cats' caravan with their phones.”

 I've heard stories, and the other day, I saw a video clip about something similar, but that one was even funnier, if that's even possible.

This dog limped as he crossed the street, going to where this butcher had his shop. I witnessed this cute dog crossing the street with a limp, and it didn't look good.

He could not walk well on three legs, and the man felt empathy rushing to his heart. A kind soul, he prepared a nice chunk of meat with the bone and gave it to the hungry pup. He took it carefully between his teeth and continued on his way, crossing back to where he came from, wagging his tail but without the limp!

Incredibly, this dog did the ultimate hustle. He knew exactly what he was doing, leaving the butcher shaking his head but laughing. After all, who will deny that devilish angel a bone?

These animals, adapting to the surrounding society, are increasing their intelligence. Their endeavours use common sense, preparation, and perfect execution. Their intelligent hustles involve preparation, premeditation, and even considering the consequences’ angle. Most of the time, there aren't any, but you never know with humans in charge. We are not all the same.

I’ve seen it with my eyes: racoons getting into small dumpsters, one or two holding the lid up, while his brothers and sisters collected all that was delish to have for supper. One by one, they all carried their booty home. That was a full, intelligent operation that required waiting, thinking, and executing. Best of all, these guys are so experienced in what they do that they never fail—unless we interfere.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

Studies show chimpanzees excel at this type of hustling and can even be trained by crooks. They act adorable to lure in tourists, then swiftly snatch their belongings. Other times, they act independently without training and look for treats inside purses. They take what's edible and abandon what is not. 

This learned behaviour from our co-inhabitants is nothing new, but the sophisticated tactics they employ nowadays show a certain level of evolution that leaves us astounded. And we can't have enough of it.

Safaris in Africa are at an all-time high. Gone are the days of cruel expeditions into the wild solely for the purpose of taking home a trophy from a defenceless creature against a super-powered rifle, etc.

There, we can easily observe how people and animals mingle and study one another. We take cellphone pictures; they try to figure out how to get the goodies from us. Park rangers tell the happy-go-lucky tourists what treats to have for which animal and at what time.

It's a science.

One thing is undeniable: they observe us without us even knowing. Whether they seek to imitate us or not is another tool in their toolbox of survival. That's what life is all about in the wild: survival and reproduction.

I don't see much of a difference in our world, do you?

The astounding ability of free animals to learn, adapt, and sympathise is nothing short of extraordinary. And it's a fact that we are learning from them, just like they are learning from us.

We have many more ways of intertwining than we are aware of, and hopefully, one day, we'll come to an essential realisation.

We rely on wildlife for our survival, but the same cannot be said for them.

Let's remember that maxim.

~∆~

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