Animal Contest
In the animal kingdom, violent arguments sometimes arise over resources such as territories, food or reproductive partners. How do individuals decide if the fight is worth it? By estimating the strength of the opponent - that's what behavioral scientists believed for a long time. But in many cases this is not the case.
The BBC documentary series Unknown Africa, broadcast in 2013, features a scene of a giraffe approaching from afar, striding through the golden sands of the Kalahari. "A young male," states David Attenborough as speaker. You see the newcomer confronting another giraffe, music sounds like a western showdown."The old cop won't want to tolerate a rival," warns Attenborough as the two giraffes begin their slugfest. "They feel each other out by pushing and shoving. The young rival seems to think he has a chance and attacks." A few moments later, he thrusts his powerful neck into that of the old male, and it gets dead serious - a bloody battle for territory begins. "The stakes are high," explains Attenborough. "To lose is to go into exile in the desert."
Documentaries about life in the wild like to feature scenes of animals in combat. In view of their drama, this is hardly surprising. But haven't you ever wondered what decision-making processes underlie such encounters? We were fortunate to be able to devote a large part of our scientific career to this fascinating field of research. And our work has given us some surprising insights into how animals act strategically when challenged by a conspecific.
Animals compete for resources such as territories, food or mates…
