FRANCE: According to Vladimir Dinets, a research assistant professor in psychology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville crocodiles loves to play. Diets, who has spent the last 10 years studying the ancient amphibious predators, says that the animals enjoy playing ball, giving piggyback rides and surfing waves.
During his decade of research Dinets observed the animals engaging in "play-like behavior" and decided to gather more data from others who've worked with crocodiles.
The results of his survey reveal a tale of the predators engaging in play with humans and other animals such as river otters. According to a statement, the results shed light on how animal intelligence has evolved.
Dinets' research showed that crocodiles engaged in the three main types of play identified by behavioral specialists: " locomotor play, play with objects and social play."
Play with objects was reported most often. According to reports crocodilians have been reported playing with noisy ceramic bits, wooden balls, streams of water, floating debris and their prey.
Examples of locomotor prey include riding currents of water, surfing on waves and reports of young alligators repeatedly sliding on slopes. Social play includes piggy pack rides and playful courting behavior as well as play with other animals.
In isolated cases, individual crocodiles have bonded with humans strongly enough to become playmates. One report involves a man who rescued a young crocodiles who had been shot. The two continued to play daily until the crocodiles death 20 years later.
"The croc would swim with his human friend, try to startle him by suddenly pretending to attack him or by sneaking up on him from behind, and accept being caressed, hugged, rotated in the water and kissed on the snout," said Dinets.
Although Dinet's work is largely based on anecdotal evidence it builds on the work of his colleague Gordon Burghardt, a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Burghardt's work defined "play" in a way that allowed it to be recognized in non-human species.
Observing this type of behavior in other animals could help to determine how and when intelligence evolves and what conditions are necessary for its development.
"Hundreds of thousands of crocodilians are now kept in captivity in zoos, commercial farms and breeding centers set up for endangered species. Providing them with toys and other opportunities for play makes them happier and healthier," said Dinets.
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