Humans have collaborated with wildlife throughout evolutionary history, forming mutually beneficial relationships that biologists refer to as mutualism.
One notable collaboration between humans and animals has recently gained attention in Brazil, where local fishermen cast their nets full of fish with the help of local bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus). This partnership began over a century ago, possibly when fishermen first noticed that the presence of dolphins indicated fish hiding beneath the muddy water, according to Mauricio Cantor, a behavioral ecologist at the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University.
Dolphins help fishermen herd mullet into their nets. (Photo: Mauricio Cantor).
“Dolphins are really good at detecting fish and herding them towards the shore,” Cantor said. “Fishermen are also very skilled at catching fish with nets. Once most of the fish are in the net, the dolphins will pull a few for themselves.”
In a study published on January 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Cantor and colleagues used long-term data to show that dolphins and fishermen respond to each other’s signals. Without timely reaction experience, the process could fail. This is a crucial part of the cultural identity of both fishermen and dolphins, but the research team noted that the practice is declining. Here are some other examples of cooperation between humans and animals.
Humans Collaborate with Orcas to Hunt Whales in Southeastern Australia
Bottlenose dolphins are not the only dolphins with whom humans have formed beneficial partnerships. In the 19th century, some hunters began collaborating with killer whales (Orcinus orca) to catch large whales. In Twofold Bay in southeastern Australia, certain killer whales would tire out the whales while others alerted the hunting team when they found prey.
When hunters arrived and caught the whale with a harpoon, they allowed the killer whales to eat the tongue before pulling the remaining carcass ashore. While the dolphins and fishermen in Brazil target the same type of fish, the migratory mullet (Mugil liza), killer whales and whale hunters pursue different prey.
Birds Lead Humans to Honey in Africa
The greater honeyguide bird often leads African locals to honeycombs. (Photo: Wikimedia).
This is the case with the greater honeyguide (Indicator indicator), a bird named for its most famous trait. Living in the sub-Saharan regions of Africa, this species collaborates with local honey gatherers to access delicious and nutritious honeycomb. Like humans, they want to avoid bee stings. Therefore, I. indicator will call to signal humans to follow them to the honeycombs.
Similar to the case of killer whales, humans seek honey while the honeyguide desires beeswax. They are so useful that the Borana people in East Africa blow a special whistle called “fuulido” to summon the honeyguide when preparing to hunt for honey. The relationship with the honeyguide has become an integral part of many African cultures.
Wolves and Humans Collaborate in Hunting
Indigenous peoples in North America once collaborated with gray wolves (Canis lupus) to hunt large animals such as moose and mammoths. Wolves would chase the prey until it was exhausted, at which point humans would kill the game. Due to the size of the prey (similar to schools of mullet), humans and wolves could share the meal. Although this relationship no longer exists, many tribes still have traditions of leaving a bit of meat for wolves after a hunt.
