Introduction
Although many people are used to separating people and animals, there are many stories that prove the fact that they share the same qualities and sometimes use the same approaches in solving various matters. For example, in the text My Life with the Chimpanzees, Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees use tools and communication methods similar to ours. Moreover, in the book Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog, it is possible to understand that animals may understand the concepts of love and loyalty. Therefore, it is possible to say that Dr. Jane Goodall and Pamela Turner, the author of Hachiko’s story, believe that people and animals share several qualities.
Evidence from Dr. Jane Goodall
Dedicating her life to studying apes, Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees are able to use simple tools, hunt in groups, and use body language along with other complicated forms of interaction. First of all, let’s start with the fact that chimpanzees use all means to make their hunting process or the process of gaining food easier. For example, as Dr. Goodall noticed, they hunt in groups to catch their prey faster and easier. Moreover, they use sticks and grass in termite “fishing,” fooling the insects and easily catching them. Additionally, Dr. Goodall was able to observe that chimpanzees share several emotions with humans. For example, they looked miserable or even irritated during the rain. They often use patting to comfort and relax each other. Another example of similarity is the apes’ advanced way of communication. For instance, chimpanzees are able to communicate using body language. They kiss, hug or pat each other just like humans do. Therefore, Dr. Jane Goodall was able to observe that humans and chimpanzees share many qualities, starting from emotions and ending with tool usage.
Hachiko: The Most Loyal Friend
Another example of the similarity between humans and animals can be found in the book Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog, where the main character of this story, Hachiko, shows his loyalty and love. This book is written by Pamela Turner and is based on a true story of a Japanese dog, which was loyal to its owner, Dr. Ueno. Even though the owner of Hachiko passed away and never returned to his beloved dog, Hachiko waited for him at the train station every day. Just as humans express devotion towards the ones they love, Hachiko expresses that of his own. Hachiko had come to the train station every day for nine years; the dog had waited for its friend for as long as it had lived. Humans often express the same feeling to the ones they lost; they cannot believe that those so special to them will never return. Undoubtedly, the true story of a Japanese dog being loyal to its owner until its last breath shows that animals are able to be devoted to their friends.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, it is possible to say that the example of chimpanzees discovered by Dr. Goodall and the story of Hachiko truly prove that animals and humans are partly the same. Both Hachiko and examined chimpanzees gave the ability to understand that animals may have emotions, logic, and even personality traits. We must be careful and loyal to our smaller brothers since they feel and understand the same things we do.
References
Goodall, J. (1996). My life with the chimpanzees. Aladdin.
Turner, P.S. (2009). Hachiko: The true story of a loyal dog. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.