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Animal Odd Couples: Anthrozoology

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Animal Odd Couples: Anthrozoology
Many years ago I watched a documentary entitled “Animal Odd Couples” which introduced me to the world of Anthrozoology. “Animal Odd Couples” was a “Nature” episode which outlined the lives of various animals who had formed interesting, cross-species relationships; Relationships that one wouldn't normally expect to find, because the idea of animals experiencing complex emotions, and forming genuine friendships could be – and for a long time was – considered taboo. In the past whenever animal welfare science had hinted at the fact that animals do experience these types of emotions, and do in fact form complex relationships that mirror our own it was considered anthropomorphism. As a student of anthropology who has a deeply seeded passion for

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    References: Fiske, A. P (2004) Social Relationships in Our Species and Cultures (Article) pp1-60 Retrieved April 1, 2012 from http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/faculty/fiske/RM_PDFs/Fiske_Fiske_HCP_SocRel.doc…

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