Animal play, my play

What is play?

Researchers study the different ways that animals behave. This includes how animals play. 

When researchers observe an animal, they write down a list of behaviours that they might see. For example feeding, sleeping and playing. They write descriptions for each behaviour. 

Here is what we see when animals play:

  • Use hands or paws to move an object
  • Running about
  • Jumping
  • Throwing an object
  • Wrestling
  • Gymnastics
  • Chasing (without aggression) other individuals or objects

Animals seem to show curiosity about their world when they play. Animals learn through play and play is important for animal minds. Different animals play in different ways. Physical play can help young animals develop muscles and reaction times. Social play can help them learn how other react. Object play might help them learn how objects behave. Do you think animals play for fun?

Look at these animals playing:

a young chimp playing on some ropes Lion cubs playing together a snow monkey playing with a ball
meerkats playing with a box a gentoo penguin playing with bubbles a young polar bear playing with a ball