>There is a wolf pack in Yellowstone led by an agressive "hoodlum" who murders
>wolves from neighboring packs when they find them alone.  Similar behavior
>has been observed in gorillas in the wild.  There are many more examples.
>
>There was a popular idea amongst ethologists (animal behaviorists) in the
>1960s that Man was the only species to commit murder, rape, divorce, etc.
> More sophisticated observation techniques have since disproved that quaint
>notion.
>
>Kathryn


Wolves survive by aggressiveness and pack behavior.  The pack is always
led by the most aggressive member.  Wolves that are weak, timid, sick or
too old will be driven from the pack and eliminated by other packs or
simply die.  This behavior is simply natural selection guaranteeing the
survival of the species.  To attribute this to destructive human traits
is simply ridiculous, IMNSHO.  Animals don't have "motives", they act
out of instinct. We humans seem to anthropomorphise everything we don't
understand (including God) and drag it down to the level of irrationality
characteristic of our own species, which seems hell-bent on global self
destruction by overpopulation, environmental destruction and war.

I feel better, now!  Sorry if I stepped on any toes. :-)