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ShutterstockĮxpedia doesn't just prohibit captive dolphin shows. This is not the only thing Expedia prohibits. It's time for other travel giants … to do the right thing and follow suit." "Travel companies play a huge role in driving captive dolphin entertainment and as one of the largest travel companies in the world we are delighted that Expedia Group are making a stand. We are so pleased that they have listened," she said. "This is amazing news and something that we have been campaigning for since 2019. Katheryn Wise, a campaign manager from the wildlife charity Wild Animal Protection, told The Guardian that her organization has also been pushing travel companies like Expedia to make this change for years. Many die prematurely because of the stressful conditions of captivity," PETA states on its website. "In 'swim with' programs, dolphins are confined to barren tanks or makeshift lagoons with no choice but to swim in endless circles. The organization says this move comes after five years of meetings and pressure from its campaign and supporters. ShutterstockĮxpedia's new policy means the company has stopped selling tickets to SeaWorld alongside other "swim with dolphins" encounters, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). This part of the brain is thought to play a major role in the planning and execution of advanced behaviors.This ban comes after various protests against the practice. It is called the spiriform nucleus and in parrots is two to five times larger than it is in a chicken. This part of the parrot's brain is similar to that of a primate's, another highly intelligent animal, and is responsible for communicating between the cortex and cerebellum. They can problem-solve, use tools, and have high levels of communication with other birds, utilizing sounds and even physical changes, such as face blushing.Ī Canadian study published in 2018 showed that after analyzing 98 different bird brains there is a definite difference in the size of one specific part of a parrot's brain.
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The intelligence level of some macaws has been compared to that of a human toddler. All parrots, and therefore macaws, are thought to have similar levels of intelligence. Because of Alex, African Grey parrots now have a reputation for being quite smart birds and need constant mental stimulation.Īlso considered parrots like the African Grey, there are several different types of macaws, including the longest parrot on the planet, the Hyacinth macaw. Over the years and up until his death, Alex learned over 100 English words and was thought to have the intelligence level of a five-year-old when he passed away.Ĭritics of Alex's studies argue he may have simply been a product of operant conditioning and not true understanding but even if it was simply a trained response, Alex's abilities far surpass anything most pet birds have been able to achieve. Alex changed people's thoughts on what a bird was capable of learning. Up until Alex, most research on avian intelligence was done using pigeons and needless to say, was disappointing. Pepperberg, who cared for him and studied him his entire life. He was purchased from a pet store at the age of one year by a doctoral student at the time, Dr. One of the most famous African Greys was named Alex but he passed away in 2007 at the young age of 31 years. African Grey parrots are the most heavily studied species of pet birds and have demonstrated a very high level of intelligence.