13/01/2021
Learn to learn!!!!!
WHY DO ANIMALS FORM SOCIAL GROUPS?
By Abdulhamid Ibrahim Saikpai
Animals in all classes and families live naturally in their habitat with functional and behavioural roles. All of these are adaptations to live comfortably within species and across species. But most importantly, these characters/traits displayed are controlled by innate/inborn responses. Learned behaviour is influenced by the environment.
Although some animals are solitary (roam alone), some are known to form organized social structures for their survival. In the unified structure, each member plays a significant role to achieve the aim of the group. Such social structures, for example are; a pack of wolves, pride of lions, a herd of antelopes, a troop of baboons, and a convocation of eagles, among others.
The wolves and lions hunt large antelopes in a group to be successful. The group targets a prey and attack from all angles to confuse and kill it. Doves are also gregarious, as they feed in groups.
Social groups are also formed to protect prey from predators. For instance, Zebra and the antelopes fight back at predators in a group. They use their horns, in the zebra's case -- hooves and teeth, to protect and defend the herd.
Furthermore, the social structure is a circle for the care and training of the young to learn basic values in the habitat. Elephants and lions use this to teach their offsprings both feeding and breeding ecology.
* A herd of zebras can also be called a zeal or dazzle of zebras.