When we think of social animals-that is, animals who live together in well-defined groups, and form enduring relationships- we usually think of the great apes, of wolves and other members of the dog family, and, or course, of humans. Science considers bears to be solitary animals. But while bears don't live in established groups or obey rigid hierarchies as chimps and wolves do, they have amazingly complex social relationships. Benjamin Kilham
About This Quote

While the words "social" and "solitary" are normally associated with humans, it is clear that not all animals conform to these categories. This quote points to the fact that even by modern standards, bears are social. They form relationships with one another, they live in groups, and they even behave as though they have societies.

Source: In The Company Of Bears: What Black Bears Have Taught Me About Intelligence And Intuition

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More Quotes By Benjamin Kilham
  1. When we think of social animals-that is, animals who live together in well-defined groups, and form enduring relationships- we usually think of the great apes, of wolves and other members of the dog family, and, or course, of humans. Science considers bears to be solitary...
  2. Bears, it turns out, are a lot like humans. They form alliances with strangers, they make calculations about relative costs and benefits, they lay down rules and punish those who break them. They trade based on a clear system of reciprocity. They communicate using equal...
  3. Aggression in bears can be and often is a stepping stone to friendship. Friendship and alliances frequently develop by repeated interactions, with initial aggression that lessens over time.
  4. Highly social animals like dogs and chimpanzees who live in small groups evolved to be more tolerant in subordinate roles. The fact that young bears behave more like young humans suggests common influences upon their social behaviour.
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