Animal Cooperation in Nature

Humpback Whale Intervention

• Humpback whales migrate from tropical breeding grounds to colder feeding areas.
• Humpbacks occasionally detour from their journey to rescue seals from orca attacks.
• This behavior raises questions about altruism and cooperation in nature.

Understanding Fitness and Altruism

• The concept of "survival of the fittest," introduced by Charles Darwin, often misinterpreted as survival of the strongest.
• Fitness is about passing genes to the next generation, not necessarily physical strength.
• The fittest can also be the most stealthy, resourceful, or cooperative.

Examples of Cooperation

1. Mutualism in the Great Barrier Reef:

   • Cleaner wrasse inspect other fish for parasites, benefiting both parties.
   • Sometimes, the wrasse might briefly turn parasitic and take a bite of the fish.

2. Meerkats in the Kalahari Desert:

   • Meerkats appoint sentries to watch for predators while others forage.
   • Sentries sound alarms at their own risk, benefiting the group indirectly.
   • This indirect benefit may increase the sentry's own fitness by helping relatives.

3. Reciprocal Altruism in Vampire Bats:

   • Bats that failed to hunt successfully may receive regurgitated food from roost mates.
   • This arrangement is based on a "you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours" principle.
   • While not pure altruism, it showcases cooperation for long-term benefits.

Altruism and Biological Mysteries

• Researchers are unsure why humpbacks protect unrelated animals like seals.
• This unexplained behavior might suggest the presence of selfless altruism.
• The potential for undiscovered acts of kindness exists within the animal kingdom.