The Emotional Lives of Animals Scientific research shows that
many animals are very intelligent and have sensory and motor
abilities that dwarf ours. Dogs are able to detect diseases such
as cancer and diabetes and warn humans of impending heart
attacks and strokes. Elephants, whales, hippopotamuses,
giraffes, and alligators use low-frequency sounds to communicate
over long distances, often miles; and bats, dolphins, whales,
frogs, and various rodents use high-frequency sounds to find
food, communicate with others, and navigate. Many animals also
display wide-ranging emotions, including joy, happiness,
empathy, compassion, grief, and even resentment and
embarrassment. It’s not surprising that animals—especially, but
not only, mammals—share many emotions with us because we also
share brain structures—located in the limbic system—that are the
seat of our emotions. In many ways, human emotions are the gifts
of our animal ancestors. Grief in magpies and red foxes: Saying
goodbye to a friend Many animals display p