Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa)
Abstract Here, we provide unique photo documentation and observational evidence of rescue behaviour described for the first time in wild boar. Rescue behaviour represents an extreme form of prosocial behaviour that has so far only been demonstrated in a few species. It refers to a situation when one...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-08-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95682-4 |
| _version_ | 1818992887124197376 |
|---|---|
| author | Michaela Masilkova Miloš Ježek Václav Silovský Monika Faltusová Jan Rohla Tomáš Kušta Hynek Burda |
| author_facet | Michaela Masilkova Miloš Ježek Václav Silovský Monika Faltusová Jan Rohla Tomáš Kušta Hynek Burda |
| author_sort | Michaela Masilkova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Here, we provide unique photo documentation and observational evidence of rescue behaviour described for the first time in wild boar. Rescue behaviour represents an extreme form of prosocial behaviour that has so far only been demonstrated in a few species. It refers to a situation when one individual acts to help another individual that finds itself in a dangerous or stressful situation and it is considered by some authors as a complex form of empathy. We documented a case in which an adult female wild boar manipulated wooden logs securing the door mechanism of a cage trap and released two entrapped young wild boars. The whole rescue was fast and particular behaviours were complex and precisely targeted, suggesting profound prosocial tendencies and exceptional problem-solving capacities in wild boar. The rescue behaviour might have been motivated by empathy because the rescuer female exhibited piloerection, a sign of distress, indicating an empathetic emotional state matching or understanding the victims. We discuss this rescue behaviour in the light of possible underlying motivators, including empathy, learning and social facilitation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:33:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-32381fd00dd245669075a8db2eb5203b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:33:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-32381fd00dd245669075a8db2eb5203b2022-12-21T19:27:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-08-011111910.1038/s41598-021-95682-4Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa)Michaela Masilkova0Miloš Ježek1Václav Silovský2Monika Faltusová3Jan Rohla4Tomáš Kušta5Hynek Burda6Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life SciencesAbstract Here, we provide unique photo documentation and observational evidence of rescue behaviour described for the first time in wild boar. Rescue behaviour represents an extreme form of prosocial behaviour that has so far only been demonstrated in a few species. It refers to a situation when one individual acts to help another individual that finds itself in a dangerous or stressful situation and it is considered by some authors as a complex form of empathy. We documented a case in which an adult female wild boar manipulated wooden logs securing the door mechanism of a cage trap and released two entrapped young wild boars. The whole rescue was fast and particular behaviours were complex and precisely targeted, suggesting profound prosocial tendencies and exceptional problem-solving capacities in wild boar. The rescue behaviour might have been motivated by empathy because the rescuer female exhibited piloerection, a sign of distress, indicating an empathetic emotional state matching or understanding the victims. We discuss this rescue behaviour in the light of possible underlying motivators, including empathy, learning and social facilitation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95682-4 |
| spellingShingle | Michaela Masilkova Miloš Ježek Václav Silovský Monika Faltusová Jan Rohla Tomáš Kušta Hynek Burda Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa) Scientific Reports |
| title | Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa) |
| title_full | Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa) |
| title_fullStr | Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa) |
| title_short | Observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar (Sus scrofa) |
| title_sort | observation of rescue behaviour in wild boar sus scrofa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95682-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelamasilkova observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa AT milosjezek observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa AT vaclavsilovsky observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa AT monikafaltusova observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa AT janrohla observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa AT tomaskusta observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa AT hynekburda observationofrescuebehaviourinwildboarsusscrofa |