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September 21, 2007
Still learning from Alex
A thread from the New York Bird club can be seen here. Our own Maggie Wrights reply, is below. Please read both.. so interesting!
The following reply from Michelle ("Sad News Pepperberg....") and correspondence with Mira Tweti, award-winning journalist, re ALEX (Avian Laboratory Experiment) has inspired me to start this thought provoking thread.
If ALEX did not learn to mimic words, could not satisfactory finish puzzles and just sat on a perch all day, a sweet bird no doubt, but did not demonstrate the intelligence of a 2 year old human, what would the consequences be for the African Grey parrot and maybe other exotics?
Perhaps there would not be as many bird mills (Scudders Bird Mill), perhaps there would not be as many pet stores or breeders in existence, perhaps there would not be as many plucked African Greys, or humans demanding that their parrot "talk" (some birds were given away because they could not mimic). Do we need proof of animals' intelligence before they are deemed worthy in our eyes? The ALEX experiment created a market for African Grey parrots and other exotics based upon unrealistic expectations. Animals should not have to prove their self worth before they are shown compassion and respect. If similar research with positive results is done on insects and cockroaches, would they not be stepped on; I say not, but you may suddenly start seeing them being sold in petstores and being exploited by commercialism...
Parrots have not benefitted by the ALEX experiment -- they have not been released back into the wild, and they have not stopped poaching them, and I do not believe they are being treated better than before ALEX. However, there are more and more parrots found in sanctuaries and shelters waiting for homes with more being bred. Dr. Pepperberg has proved that African Greys have the intelligence of a 2 year old human -- but at what price to ALEX? We will never know because he is not talking and who cares. I for one love, respect, cherish and adore animals whether they have the intelligence of a 2 year old, a 10 year old or have limited intelligence. Each creature and living entity has the right to exist on our planet and live in peace and harmony as much as it is possible. While some of us argue that animals are needed by humans for food and clothing, and this certainly is open for debate, we do not need a bird in a cage for the survival of the human race.
Blessings and peace to all.
Michelle's reply:
"I am very sorry that Alex has died. I am sure that Irene cared for him very much. I am not extremely familiar with her work, but I really can't understand why scientific research is necessary to prove that any living thing is a sentient being and aware of it's surroundings. A being could not survive were it not aware of it's surroundings. Do any of us really think that because a dog cannot say blue or red that it is not conscious of the difference between blue and red? one and many? Does a female of any species not realize when one of its young is missing? The mother does not say oh there are some here that must be all of them. A dog with 10 puppies knows that one of the group is missing. Each of our "non speaking" birds has a name for us in it's own language. It took me years to distinguish the sound that my last lovebird had for me, and I have not yet, after 2 years, distinguished my current bird's name for me.
Research with Alex began 30 years ago when people's views of animals were very different, but I don't see the need for it today.
Recently I read an article about research being conducted in Japan. Dogs were confused when shown a video of someone else speaking in their person's voice. Did anyone actually think that a dog could not distinguish the voices of people they know and connect them with their faces? Millions of dollars had to be spent on this? I think it is the people who need to be researched not the animals.
Its just my opinion so please don't jump down my throat."
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Maggie's reply:
Dear New York Bird Club Thread on “discounting Alex research”,
I have been helping Dr. Pepperberg answer emails about Alex. Based on many hundreds of email messages and thought-provoking editorials in publications such as the NY Times, thank God many people would disagree with you. So many parrot owners have THANKED Dr. Pepperberg for helping them see the potential of their birds. And they have spent more time teaching them and paying attention to them.
You say that parrots have not benefited from the research….they have not been released back into the wild. Domestically raised parrots should NEVER be released in the wild. They would not know how to survive! They are taught by their parents what to eat and not to eat…and how to avoid predators. Domestically raised parrots did not get that education from their bird parents. They would be eaten up immediately. It is against the law to sell wild caught parrots in the US. Thank goodness other countries are also making this rule. So, if you use the fact that they have not been released back into the wild as the indicator of whether or not the Alex research has benefited parrots, you are right. Most people know better than to throw indefensible animals into an environment where they haven’t a clue how to survive.
There are people who love their animals whether or not they are intelligent. I agree with that. All animals are wonderful, smart or not. Each creature does have the right to exist on this earth. But it also has the right to be respected. It deserves the right to have us recognize that man is not as superior as he thinks over animals. They have the right to humane treatment and to be seen as something more than as mere autotons.
Even IF the Alex research had not been done, smart birds would be sitting in cages. They would be “shocking” their owners with intelligent comments or reactions to things. But the evidence would be only seen as “anecdotal.” Greys and other parrots and wild birds like the crows have always been smart. …and other animals too. But no one would recognize it and they would be raised and sold, as they have in the past.
Paula, you state that the ALEX research started 30 years ago when people’s views of animals were different….but we don’t need it today because we see them differently. Did it ever occur to you that maybe the attitudes are different today about animals because of the dedicated research that Dr. Pepperberg and Alex did together?
Thank you for your time. One thing we can ALL agree on is that we LOVE our feathered companions. Aren’t we blessed!?!
Maggie Wright
Posted by sue at September 21, 2007 06:59 AM