this post was submitted on 01 May 2026
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No Stupid Questions
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I expect it depends on the animal and their historic (as well as personal) exposure to fire.
For example, some Australian raptors understand how fire spreads and how to use it to their advantage pretty well, I'd say! https://blog.nature.org/2018/01/12/australian-firehawk-raptors-intentionally-spread-wildfires/
A 2009 study suggests that chimpanzees understand fairly well how fire spreads and can plan to avoid it https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105312.htm
Forest animals certainly seem to know they need to flee fire.
But like, do dolphins understand fire? Honestly probably not; how would they have developed this knowledge?
K, now Dolphins and fire have come up twice for me today, imma need to examine this further i the future lmao
I think it's just a good example of an intelligent animal who's not likely to know jack about fire, LOL. I couldn't find anyone even trying to study if dolphins understand fire in a cursory search, but LMK if you do find anything, as I am actually curious now.