Animal Quote by Frans de Waal
“It is hard to get animals which normally pay little attention to each other to do things together. One can teach dolphins to jump simultaneously out of the water precisely because they show similar behavior spontaneously, but try to make two domestic cats jump together and you will fail.”
About This Quote
Source Research: Animal Cooperation Studies, 2005
Animals that usually ignore each other can be coordinated only when they share innate synchronized behaviors, like dolphins; cats lack this, so joint tasks fail.
In simple terms: Some animals can cooperate naturally, others cannot.
Key Takeaway
Recognize species‑specific social cues.
Themes
cooperation
social behavior
species differences
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
observational
scientific
When to use this quote
- zoo training
- pet training
- wildlife observation
- comparative studies
Key Concepts
ethology
behavioral ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- What innate behaviors enable joint action?
- How can we foster cooperation in less social species?
A Different Perspective
Not all animals can be trained to act together, even with incentives.
![“As he [Sir Malcolm Sargeant, conductor of the London Philharmonic] stood in waist deep in the shallows of Whaler's Cove, the littler spinners came drifting over, sleek and dainty, gazing at him curiously with their soft dark eyes. Malcolm was a tactful, graceful man in his movements, and so the…” quote by Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eca/karen-pryor-39019_dark-eyes_as-he-sir-malcolm-sargeant-conductor-of_162419.jpg)
