Giant tortoises show surprising cognitive powers
When I worked in Central Illinois recently, the home my wife and I rented bordered a field where young cows were raised. The small cows seemed to play some sort of game, running around each other like run after the leader. We thought they were playing. Later my wife found stuff on the web about cows being given beach balls to play with and with each other. Uncomfortable truth for people who selfishly help environmentally destroy our planet with their meat addictions? I would say yes.<p>My small Meyers Parrot similarly plays games, remembers things for months but does eventually seem to forget things he has learned. His neocortex is probably only one square inch.<p>My personal belief is that in life in the universe (with about 400 billion galaxies <i>times</i> about 100 billion stars per galaxy) is wide spread, if rare.  I think there is also some pressure for life to develop different types of intelligence based on their biology and environment.<p>Anyway, I am in strong agreement with the people here saying that it is difficult to recognize non-human intelligence as intelligence.