The sex life of animals: how similar is it to ours?

The sex life of animals is often compared to that of humans. But do you know why? Here are the most interesting points:

Animals get their kicks too (even if they don't always have the parts for it)

Sexual behaviours not motivated by a reproductive goal have been detected in our dolphin friends, but also our bonobo pals. Would you believe it — orgasms have even been detected in certain species! On the biped side of things, orgasms can also be (unfortunately) rare, but we include the notion of pleasure much more in the motivation behind our intimate encounters. By the way, if you want tips on how to increase your sexual pleasure, you should read this article .

"Sensual seduction", as our rapper friend whose name is inspired by canines would say (do you get it?)

For what it's worth, no mating displays have been spotted in dogs. Birds, on the other hand, are true lovers! During their migratory phases, they can display and mate with multiple feathered partners. Think back to your last picnic in the park — I'm sure you've witnessed the frenzied dance of a peacock trying to lure a female with his colourful plumage. On our side, you only need to step into a nightclub to realise that these behaviours aren't exclusive to our feathered friends... See: Uncle Roger, single for 2 years, who tries to pull at every wedding with his epic breakdance solo.

Sentimental mussel

OK, I'll admit it — that was just for the pun. Scientists aren't light on the subject of feelings in animals, which remains quite controversial. What we can say is that our animal friends experience emotions such as joy, sadness, fear, and stress. Gibbons, for example, often show affectionate gestures towards their other half — because yes, they are monogamous creatures! The ability to feel friendship gold affection for one's close circle is therefore a huge thing we have in common with certain animals, but the link with sexuality isn't necessarily there. The same goes for human beings, actually — you can absolutely have sex without feelings, as long as you don't play with someone else's!

And what about seks, in all of this?

What is certain, however, is that our relationship with sexuality is far more emotional than that of animals. Bonobos, for example, use sexual intercourse to create and strengthen social bonds within their group. Even if they experience pleasure doing so, making love always serves a specific purpose — which isn't quite the case for human beings.

What we can take away is that, as humanoids, our mating possibilities, the nature of relationships, and the choice of sexual partners are far broader. We decide together what's best for us, and we do as we please — as long as we don't devour our partner (and there's a reference there, did you catch it?).