Can You Feel the Love Tonight

It’s February 14th so I thought I would share a little love.  Once thought to be a means of displaying social status and sustaining social rank, head rubbing, nuzzling and licking between lions is actually for maintaining social bonds, or what we like to anthropomorphize as showing affection.  A study published in PLOS One tested three hypotheses for these affiliative actions through behavioral observations of a captive lion pride with the results supporting social bonding over social status or tension reduction.  Meaning, a female lion nuzzling up to a male lion may be similar to a kiss.

So follow in the paw-steps of a lion this Valentine’s day and show some affection (not just because according to a Today Show survey 52% of people would end a relationship because they didn't get anything for Valentine’s day – extreme – but because everyone could benefit from a little nuzzle).

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