Animals That Outsmart Humans: Cleverness Beyond Expectation

Have you ever been outsmarted by an animal? To be honest, embarrassingly so!

This tales unfold from my own experiences during a photo safari in Kenya, as well as the antics of my Siberian cat. These stories not only highlight the remarkable intelligence of animals but also emphasize common human missteps.

Serendipitous Misadventures in Kenya

During an adventure safari in Kenya, I was tasked with bringing sweets for the children in the villages. A bag of sourballs—tasty, non-melting treats—accompanied me on various excursions. One particular day, while waiting for the van to transport us to the game preserve, I was tasked with taking photographs of the local wildlife.

Protecting Wildlife with Photographs

Not far from where I stood, a cute family of monkeys was playing in a nearby tree. I quickly took out my camera and shot a few candid shots before the film ran out. Excited to capture more, I removed the spent roll, opened a new one, and as I was fumbling with the packaging, one of the monkeys nabbed the entire box in a swift, agile move. I cursed! Film is precious in Kenya, often priced twice as much as in most regions. Instead of giving up, I decided to offer the monkeys a sweet deal: a sourball!

I produced the plastic bag of sourballs from my belly bag, and to my surprise, the monkeys promptly dropped the box and leaped right for the tantalizing morsels. Before long, a swarm of monkeys descended on the site, each one tearing open their sourballs and parading their colorful prizes in front of me. I was left with just the film, albeit back in my possession. But alas, the encounter left me bested twice—a humbling experience for a seasoned photographer.

Cleverness of My Siberian Cat: A Persistent Problem

Before the safari, I encountered another instance of an animal outsmarting me, this time in my own living room. Sapientia—my Siberian cat—was a sly creature. In the early days, when my young wife (then girlfriend) moved in, she did not want the cat in the bedroom, so we sealed the door at night. However, my cat's cunning outweighed our attempts to keep her out.

Experiencing Persistent Cat Behavior

As the night fell, Sapientia began meowing and clawing at the sealed door. Ignoring the cries, my intention was to let her know we had no solution to her requests. For about an hour, I disregarded the ruckus. To my dismay, the cat continued her destructive mission. I could hear from the distinct sounds—the unmistakable tearing of my new sofa. For a staggering ten minutes, I endured the agony of listening to the sofa being destroyed.

Fueled by frustration, I opened the door to scold her, only for Sapientia to leap over the object I had placed to block the opening and enter the room. She then dashed under the bed, a place I would never reach. This incident segued into a long-standing arrangement: Sapientia slept in the bedroom with us for the following ten years, until her passing.

Conclusion: The Unforeseen Consequences of Misunderstanding Animal Intelligence

The stories of my misadventures with animals underscore the importance of underestimating their intelligence. From the monkeys to my kitten, their actions have taught me that animals are far more clever than we give them credit for. It’s a reminder to approach these experiences with a sense of curiosity and respect for their capabilities.