Many people often dismiss animals' intelligence as being remedial, and make assumptions about how much the furry, feathered and scaly creatures know.
They may want to re-think their previous notions, since researchers at Seoul National University (SNU) recently discovered that even simple birds can recognize individual humans.
When studying magpies and their nests, a certain scientist was charged with climbing a tree everyday to collect eggs or chicks for their research. The mother bird began to recognize the man, and chased after him accordingly. When two of the colleagues tried to trick the magpie by switching hats, the avian being was not fooled.
"It was [a] very unusual thing," says Dr. Sang-im Lee, lead author.
Philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that the brain has limitless power, and that it's unwise to make assumptions or put limitations on what a being can achieve with a sharp mind. Results of this study suggest that brain potential is something all creatures possess, even the smallest ones living in the treetops.
Korea's SNU is one of the top educational institutions in the world, specializing in law, industrial engineering, mining, medicine, economics, dentistry and women's studies.
