Have you ever watched a dog relentlessly chasing a ball or a cat stalking a feather as if it were real prey? Although for many these moments may seem like mere displays of tenderness or animal entertainment, the truth goes much further. Play in animals is not just a way to pass the time but also hides a fascinating complexity that has been studied by biologists, ethologists, and experts in animal behavior for decades. Furthermore, it is interesting to explore how some games stimulate the mind in different species.
From crocodiles playing with flowers to mice enjoying mock fights, Nature is full of surprising examples that prove that play is not exclusive to humans or our closest pets.. This article delves into what play really means in the animal world, why they engage in it, its benefits, and which species engage in it, based on current scientific evidence and documented observations by specialists.
Is play a common practice in the animal kingdom?
For a long time it was thought that play was a thing of domestic mammals like dogs and cats. However, thanks to research by experts like Gordon Burghardt, a psychologist at the University of Tennessee, we now know that this is not the case. Even species previously considered too “simple” to play with, such as reptiles, fish, invertebrates, and turtles, have demonstrated playful behavior. In the context of this phenomenon, we can mention the characteristics of vertebrate animals.
Burghardt proposed five criteria for considering behavior as play: that it is voluntary, that it does not have an immediate objective, that it is pleasurable, different from its functional equivalent (such as actually fighting) and that it is repetitive.
Following these guidelines, today we can affirm that play is present in almost all branches of the evolutionary tree, although it is not universal.There are species that have never been observed playing, but many others do, even in circumstances that we might consider adverse.
This is a question for which there is still no definitive answer. One of the most widespread theories claims that animals play to develop useful skills in adult life, such as hunting, escaping predators, or improving social interaction. For example, games have also played an important role in environmental education.
However, several studies have called this explanation into question.For example, it has been observed that otters playing juggling Cats who are raised with rocks aren't any better at solving puzzles than those who aren't. Similarly, cats who have grown up surrounded by toys don't become better hunters because of it.
This has given rise to a second theory: that of pleasure. Some specialists, including Alex Richter-Boix, propose that Animals just play because they like itThis form of recreation activates your brain's reward system, just as it does in humans, generating chemicals like dopamine that make you feel well-being and joy.
In this sense, the game would not have an adaptive function beyond enjoyment.. Dogs that fetch the ball over and over again may have found an effective way to repeatedly enjoy the same pleasurable stimulus. This relates to how dogs emotional games can influence the relationship between humans and animals.
Numerous animals have been observed engaging in playful behaviors that have no direct purpose, but that clearly appear enjoyable. Let's look at some of the most striking examples collected by scientists and communicators:
- Crocodiles They have been seen playing with colorful balls and flowers, even carrying others on their backs while swimming.
- The cats Domestic animals play with feathers, balls of yarn or rubber bands as if they were prey, sometimes with surprising intensity.
- the seals They have been portrayed playing with seaweed and floating objects, sometimes in such elaborate ways that they seem to want to impress some unseen onlooker.
- Foxes They use objects such as toilet paper rolls for fun; mock fights between them using these items as toys have even been documented.
- The octopuses In aquariums, they entertain themselves by spraying water at bottles to make them move, something they don't always do in their natural habitat, where they are more concerned with survival.
Playful behaviors have also been recorded in nature which, at first glance, might seem to be part of another type of behavior such as hunting, courtship, or defense. This type of behavior can be compared to the way some animals are threatened.
For instance, Crows have been observed sledding across snowy rooftops, repeating the action over and over again even if it has no apparent utility. Young elephants, both male and female, splash around in rivers just for fun., without this act being linked to hygiene or a display of strength.
Meerkats play with each other by adopting fighting or chasing postures, although this does not improve their social skills or reduce their aggression.In fact, some researchers believe this game may have a more subtle evolutionary value: preparing their brains to cope with uncertainty.
Rats raised in isolation show inferior brain development to those that lived and played with other rats.. They have less impulse control, worse short-term memory, and fewer social skills. This suggests that Play can be an essential tool in the maturation of the nervous system.
An alternative hypothesis suggests that the game was not developed with a specific purpose., but is a consequence of other evolutionary characteristics such as intelligence, curiosity or the availability of free time. For example, just as in the game of Olympics, animals can find various forms of entertainment.
Komodo dragons in zoos play with their keepers by holding ropes or balls, while Geckos have been recorded having fun with floating objects in zero gravity.These activities could be interpreted as a playful response to boredom or the sensory stimulation available in controlled environments.
In nature, free time is a luxuryWild animals spend a large part of their day searching for food, protecting themselves, and surviving. Therefore, In protected environments such as zoos or aquariums, it is more common to see play behaviorsBut that doesn't mean they don't occur in the wild: they're just harder to document.
The game of hide-and-seek in birds and other animals
Birds also incorporate play into their daily lives.The woodpecker, for example, plays by hiding behind tree trunks and poking its head out as if challenging its observer. The more timid nuthatch acts similarly, although it allows the bird to approach closer before playfully escaping.
The cuckoo, for its part, seems to enjoy the deception.. Their technique of laying eggs in the nests of other species and letting others raise them for them could be interpreted as a playful way of circumventing the rules of nature, although it also responds to a sophisticated survival strategy. In this sense, it is interesting to consider the relationship of these behaviors with the development of mammals.
The wild hare in Spain shows surprising skills in “playing hide-and-seek.” with the bloodhounds chasing her. She retraces her steps, makes unexpected leaps, and camouflages herself in the terrain to mislead her enemies.
Some playful behaviors seem to be aimed at strengthening bonds between individuals., as occurs in social mammals. Chimpanzee mothers, for example, tickle their young and promote physical play that strengthens the bond and teaches behavioral boundaries. This highlights the importance of work with animals in education and socialization.
In domestic settings, humans also reinforce play through toys, physical games, and playful routines with their pets. This creates a closer bond between human and animal species, and shows that shared pleasure can be a key element in interspecies relationships..
Even some animals such as domestic cats or pigs have been observed interacting directly with people or their objects in a playful way., without seeking food or protection, simply for the pleasure of interacting and stimulating each other.
Play in animals is not a rarity, but rather a further manifestation of the complexity of animal behavior.Although not all species play, and we can't always explain why they do it, observations and studies allow us to conclude that it is a much more universal and significant behavior than previously thought. Whether for pleasure, cognitive development, or simply free time, animals find in play a form of expression that humanizes their life experience and connects us with them in a deeper way.
