RAVENS’ MEAL DEAL

ANIMALS and plants have evolved to live alongside one another, or sometimes to repel one another to maximise their chances of survival. Wolves are a good example. They have developed a symbiotic relationship with ravens (right). Just like vultures in the African savanna, the ravens of Northern latitudes circle over fresh carcasses, noisily laying claim to them. And in doing so, they provide valuable assistance to wolves. From their vantage point in the sky, they alert the grey-coated hunters to the approach of brown bears who would easily beat them in a fight for the spoils, and in return they are allowed to help themselves to a share of the booty. They could never do this without the permission of the wolves, who could easily make a meal of them but instead teach their offspring that these birds are their friends. Wolf cubs have been observed playing with ravens; they remember their smell and come to regard them as members of their community.