Domestication is a process during which the lifestyle of a wild animal changes significantly. What animals could get along with a person and began to benefit him? A wild dog was needed for hunting and protection, cattle and birds brought meat and milk, horses were an excellent vehicle, and cats helped get rid of rodents. Domesticated animals easily took root in human society and became its indispensable companions and assistants.
A bit of history
The taming of agricultural animals dates back to the beginning of the Neolithic, and this is about 9000 years ago. Ancient farmers began by raising goats, then sheep, pigs and cattle. The stimulus for this was probably global warming at the end of the Ice Age, which caused drought in the Middle East and forced people to gather around reliable sources of water. The subsequent increase in population density decreased the efficiency of hunting and gathering, and crop cultivation also could not fully satisfy the demand for food. Animal grazing was the only reliable source of protein-rich food during times of scarcity.
Domesticated animals: features
A pet is characterized by several characteristics. First, he is bred in captivity for economic profit. Secondly, people manage selection processes, organization of the territory and feeding. Domesticated animals are bred in captivity and, as a rule, differ in their anatomy and behavior from their wild ancestors. Stress and dependence on people leads to hormonal imbalances and disrupts growth in various parts of the body.
Breeding in captivity exaggerates these phenomena, which leads to submissive behavior, smaller body size, deposition of fat under the skin, shortening of the jaws, teeth and brain. What is the difference between domesticated animals from wild counterparts? Besides the fact that they have a different appearance, they are even calmer and not so aggressive, since they do not need to protect themselves from predators and other adverse wildlife factors.
Dogs
The first domesticated animal is a dog, which, according to many experts, came from a wolf. Other researchers suggest that these closest human friends may have come from a now extinct wild dog. Both species are well aware of the social hierarchy, creating more complex and organized groups than any other species.
When the wolves began to remove garbage around the settlements, people began to take puppies to serve as guards and hunters. Tamed by man, these wild domesticated animals easily took root in human society and became faithful companions for their masters.
Cattle
Cattle records are found in the archaeological record of 6,000 years ago in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Their common ancestor was the now extinct wild bull. For these domesticated animals, there were many uses, including as labor, as well as using all that they could give - milk, meat, bones and fat (for burning).
Pigs
Pigs were domesticated from wild boars at about the same time cattle were tamed. In their behavior, they are in many ways closer to dogs and people than the same cows. Pigs use bodily contact with other family members, build nests and beds. They are physically weak at birth and require significant parental care.
Horses
Domesticated animals such as horses have been tamed in various parts of the world. It is believed that this process began around the 3rd century. BC e. in Russia and West Asia from a wild horse. These herbivores are especially suitable for breeding on dry plains.
At first they were even used for food, but endurance allowed them to make excellent vehicles for travel. The ability to transport people has had a huge impact on the economy by accelerating the movement of people. This was actually a necessary step in the development of human civilization.
Cats
What animals have man domesticated yet? Ancient archaeological finds indicate that the ancient Egyptians kept cats as pets for another thousand years BC. e. These cute creatures are an exception to all taming rules.
Wild cats helped to get rid of rats and mice, thus protecting stored grain at a time when agriculture became widespread. These predominantly nocturnal predators were controlled with great difficulty. Interestingly, modern domesticated cats are not much different from their wild ancestors.
Size matters
Can domesticated animals be dangerous to humans? There is one huge factor that matters when it comes to attacks and threats to human life. Regardless of morals, large animals can be deadly to their owners.
Every large pet (horse, cow, camel, dog) can cause death. As the saying goes, you can remove the beast from the wild, but you can not remove the wildlife from the beast. There is always a risk, and the larger and stronger the animal, the more obvious this risk.
Environment shapes behavior
Domesticated animals are not just robots that are programmed to behave in a certain way. However, any animal raised in captivity is likely to be significantly different from its wild counterparts.
For example, comparing the features of domestic and wild cats, you will have to consider their environment. The behavior and psychology of these species form a lot of parallels. Having enough food and being away from excess pressure and the dangers that exist in nature, animals change.
Most of them retain common character traits at a young age, when animals have not yet entered a full-fledged adult life. Small puppies and cubs, for example, will behave in approximately the same way.
Until they are kicked out of the nest (lairs) to search for themselves in the wild, they will be incredibly kind, playful, and sociable, as their hunting instinct is not developed to the point of attacking.