Do Less Harm: Ants and a Simple New Years Resolution

A recent National Public Radio (NPR) report summarizing a study showing that ants seem to be able to count caught my eye. An ingenious experiment showed that ants are able to count the steps they take using what are called "pedometer-like" cells in their brain. Fascinating indeed. Then I noted that part of the experiment entailed cutting off parts of the legs of some ants in what the NPR report called a "makeover." Yet another example of how the media misrepresents animals in what, I assume, was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek way, making light of the fact that these animals were really mutilated.

Calling this sort of mutilation a "makeover" really upset me, as if lopping off an essential body part is like making over a home. Shame on NPR for using this language. The language we use to refer to animals and the methods we use to study them inform our thoughts and perceptions of who they are and our thoughts and perceptions influence our actions. I'm worried that some people will read the NPR report, laugh, and not pay attention to the simple fact that ants were mutilated in this study. What were the ants thinking and feeling? There was no mention of this at all. Would the word "makeover" have been used if chimpanzees or dogs were the subjects of this study? I doubt it. Such speciesism shows that ants and other animals who do amazing things aren't thought of in the same light as "higher" animals who in fact cannot do some of the amazing things that ants and other insects can (see also)

Ants shouldn't have their legs amputated nor should any other animals. A simple new year's resolution centering on our interactions with other animals and one that will make everyone feel better about themselves is Do Less Harm. We can do less harm by changing our ways and also by letting people know that we don't like the demeaning ways in which they refer to animals. As Zoe Weil, a renowned humane educator says, Above All, be Kind. It's simple to do less harm and be kind and we and the animal beings with whom we share our lives and with whom we interact in a wide variety of ways will all be the better for it.