Originally Posted by Izzibeth

I think there is a lot about the brains of many animals that we simply don't know. I watched this one program about a cheetah mother years ago. At one point she came across this newborn lion. The mother of the newborn had become hurt very badly just before she gave birth and so left the group, gave birth out in the middle of nowhere and then was killed by hyenas. The mother cheetah came across the newborn and picked it up... and stood there for some time. She would put it down... then pick it up.. then put it down. Lions and cheetahs are pretty much sworn enemies and it was as if this mother cheetah was debating in her head whether or not she should take the baby. The newborn was crying and crying and crying (as babies do) and the mommy cheetah stood with it for probably a good 10-15 minutes... not sure what to do (she had just had babies herself pretty much so she was in that "mother" state-of-mind). Eventually.. but very slowly.. she left the newborn lion cub where it was where it was almost immediately eaten by the hyenas. But it was sad to watch and it is the type of thing that makes you KNOW that many animals (even wild ones) work on much more than just instinct.

In terms of beliefs... I can almost guarantee they have no need for it. Much less the time. The majority of wild animals' entire lives are made up of staying alive each day and keeping their babies alive.