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Nature has made members of the animal kingdom in close coordination with the humans. There exist a vast variety of animals, birds, and insects that live in the wild but are yet regular visitors in human settlements. They visit humans, not for hunting or preying, but to increase interactions with them or for a mutual exchange of affection. Some of them are very affectionate towards the human population and even make dedicated and loving pets. We will discuss most affectionate wild animals towards humans
Although figures vary from study to study, it’s currently generally accepted that chimpanzees and their close relative’s Gorillas are both humans’ closest living relatives. These species share around 98.7% of our DNA. People have always been intrigued by exotic pets. Now more animal lovers welcome different kinds of wild creatures into their homes. Read on to see what surprising animals from the wild outdoor world are being adored by pet owners. Here is a list of most affectionate wild animals towards humans.
Most Affectionate Wild Animals Towards Humans
1. Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees have been known to be great friends with humans. They can feel great love and warmth for people they are friends with, and also express it in different ways by snuggling, patting or bringing small gifts like sticks, grass or branches for their human friends. Chimpanzees are genetically closest to humans and share about 98.6% of our DNA. We have an almost similar physical structure, have complex emotions and intelligence, and can also get involved in games and plays. It is also listed as one of the most intelligent animal species.
2. Elephants
Elephants are very social animals and seem to demonstrate that with humans. Many people, who tend to or keep elephants, have become friends with their elephants. They also appear to recognize many humans, even when separated from them for decades. Elephants are capable of complex thought and deep feeling and can express joy, anger, grief, compassion, and love. They know how to comfort their sad friends with comforting caresses. They are very protective of their human caretakers or friends and enjoy hugging by wrapping their trunks around humans. African elephants are one of the scariest animals in Africa.
3. Capybara
One of the coolest rodents, Capybara, native to South America, is the friendliest animal in the world. These rodents are extremely affectionate, and can even adopt abandoned animals of different species. They are friendly and respond well to human contact. They like to express themselves by purring, barking, cackling, whistling, or squealing, depending on what they’re trying to communicate. They can also make affectionate pets and are very social and peaceful animals. Capybara is the largest rodent and hence listed as one of the biggest animals in the world.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Shy and Smart Types of Felines
4. Panda
You can easily fall in love with a panda. Their playful antics and loving gestures can easily take your heart away. Panda zookeepers know very well how loving these furry bears can be with their sneezing habits and clownish behaviour. Pandas in conservation centres associate humans with feeding and basic needs, since the time they are cubs. They can become clingy to their keepers. But pandas can be aggressive in the wild and need to be handled carefully.
Also Read: Top 10 Facts about Giant Pandas
5. Cat
Cats are another category of popular pets all over the world that are also known to be affectionate to humans. Cats recognize their owners’ voices. A cat’s purr is also known to provide therapeutic benefits for depression and anxiety. A cat purrs within a range of 20-140 Hz which can not only lower stress but it can also lower blood pressure, help heal infections, and even heal bones. Cats are listed as one of the most graceful animals and have also been used as Therapy cats to heal patients with anxiety, depression and other mental phobias.
6. Rabbits
Rabbits are very loving, social animals and make good pets with humans. They love to spend time with their humans and can get lonely and depressed without human interaction. They need an interactive environment that challenges their mind, exercises their body, and gives them satisfaction. They recognize their owners by voice and sight. Rabbits can respond to commands by their owners and are one of the cutest animals in Canada. These furry bunnies may even follow their owners from room to room and jump up on their laps when called.
7. Dolphins
Dolphins are intelligent, friendly mammals that like to play tricks and interact with humans. Dolphin trainers are known to establish great rapport with these animals and have succeeded in training them by giving hand signals to dip below the water surface, or skate backwards in water or learn to do other acrobatics tricks. Dolphins are great at mimicking and use both verbal utterances and nonverbal gestures to communicate with one another. These include whistles, clicks, and loud burst pulses.
Also Read: Top 10 Dolphin Species
8. Horse
Horses can form companionship attachments with humans. Horses can feel various emotions without reasoning, unlike humans. Horses may also acquire human communication skills if they are properly trained. They learn to associate certain signals like attention and emotion with certain positive or negative outcomes. Horses are very loyal to their masters or trainers and can show affection by rubbing their heads to them or showing an interest in playing with them.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Draft Horse Breeds
9. Wallabies
Wallabies are small-sized, kangaroo-type creatures, native to Australia and New Zealand. They have powerful hind legs with which they can jump great distances and bounce up into the air. Some wallabies are gentle and friendly. However, they cannot be domesticated or housetrained. They can make a great pet in the right house. They can be quite affectionate with their owners and each other and are generally social animals.
Image Source: Wikipedia
10. Alpacas
Alpacas also tend to enjoy human companionship. Although Alpacas don’t like to be petted, they can develop a capacity to learn and follow guidance from humans when in groups. Alpacas show affection to each other and their human friends in a very loving way-they wrap their necks around and then gently caress their humans. Alpacas are more like cats and love to cuddle and snuggle with their human friends.
Image Source: Wikimedia
These are some of the animals that are known to have been extremely affectionate towards humans. Besides these, the human-canine bonding has also been existent for thousands of years. Dogs have been recognized as “man’s best friend,” for centuries. They have always been known to offer companionship and loyalty to their human counterparts. Today, the dogs are pampered with the best of food and medical care. They even get to sleep in their owners’ comfortable beds. Research has shown that when our dogs stare into our eyes, they activate the same hormonal response that bonds us to human infants. These are the 10 most affectionate wild animals towards humans. Kindly share and do post your comments.