Sheep evolution
Really, I'm not obsessed with sheep, but here comes another post about sheep (following this one about smart sheep)...Did we miss something in the evolution of sheep? Apparently sheep aren't just smart, but they are becoming rude and cunning creatures who are just about too smart for their own good. I came across a BBC article claiming a small flock had figured out how to get across a stock grid to get to the tastier food in people's gardens on the other side.
Hungry sheep on the Yorkshire moors have taught themselves to roll 3 metres across hoof-proof metal cattle grids... ...the crafty animals have also perfected the skill of hurdling 1.5 metre fences and squeezing through 20cm gaps... ...Dorothy Lindley, a Conservative councillor, said: "They lie down on their side, or sometimes their back, and just roll over and over the grids until they are clear."And we all thought stock grids were able to prevent stock crossing!??
Well, as they say, need is the mother of invention and these sheep just needed to eat some flowers.
Technorati Tags: sheep, intelligence, animal behaviour, Yorkshire
posted by Lisa at 1:47 pm
3 Comments:
Don't worry, two entries on sheep is not enough to indicate obsession!
I really had no idea that sheep thought like this. Then again, I didn't really think they thought much at all... about anything. But there's my naturally human ignorance kicking in.
Is Dolly still alive? Or did I hear she had died...? Do you know?
Yup, dolly's gone, but not forgotten by most. See also this article from 14 Feb 03. I'd forgotten about the origins of her name.
I like the idea that sheep are smarter than people give them credit for. Shakes up the Animal Farm viewpoint a bit - maybe it will be the sheep that lead the revolution. Or this might happen.
And personally, I think sheep are underblogged.
Thank you for your patience with sheep blogging and also for refraining from Kiwi jokes. Cheers!
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