• Question: Can stress effect animals as much as it effects people?

    Asked by flibble to Chris, Georgina, Kristi, Laura on 6 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Chris Tyler

      Chris Tyler answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      The data suggests so. While the actual stress may be different it is clear that animals can experience very severe levels physiologically (e.g. hunting animals tend to be more susceptible to physiological heat stress and so look to kill quickly if possible) and psychologically (e.g. hair loss, cage prowling, self-harm in zoos and factory farms)

    • Photo: Laura Ginesi

      Laura Ginesi answered on 8 Nov 2017:

      The stress response is an essential part of survival. It is sometimes called the fight – flight – freeze response because that’s how animals respond to something like a predator coming after them. The physiological changes are sometimes remarkably similar.

      Like Chris, I think animals can show signs of being under extreme pressure(s) and what theyanimals actually experience and how they respond is studied by animal behaviourists.

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