Courting Nature
Mating Rituals in the Animal Kingdom Buying flowers, offering chocolates, dipping a girl’s hair in an inkwell — we’re all familiar with the time-honored rituals of romance. But as Mother Nature shares ever so tenderly, we are not the only species to do engage in the dance of romance. from Treehugger.com
Dusky Dolphins are current examples of the 70's hippy movement all over again. They much prefer to Make Love, Not War. These mammals live in rather promiscuous societies, or communes if you will, engaging in frequent group sex to build upon their society’s closeness as a whole. The prelude to these group acts includes chases, leaps from the water, and swimming belly to belly (sounds a little like Woodstock).
Adélie Penguins live in small nests made of stone. The one thing these little mammals have a lot of is rock, so when it comes to getting on their mate’s good side, the male penguin will often bring her a carefully chosen stone as a courtship gift to enforce their bond. Does it work? Yeah, just as much as any other 3 Karat rock works for us humans! Masked Boobies have their own brand of mating ritual. The males attract a female’s attention in much the same as the Adelie Penguin, by giving her gifts, except in addition they also offer small token of themselves in the form of feathers. African Elephants are some of the most gentle and affectionate animals on earth. Just as a true romantic couple prefers to go everywhere holding the hand of their chosen soul mate, male and female elephants gently caress and entwine their trunks as a sign of affection and dare we say love for each other. -38-
