Do you think humans underestimate some animals?

Most people I meet and discuss this with either over-estimate animals and think that they're on par with humans, if not better, or don't see them as possesing any intelligence at all.

Personally, I just think people who under-estimate animals (as in the commentator on said video posting) lack general knowledge of how important evolved instincts are to survival. You don't have to be a scientist to know that most creatures posses built in instincts to survive and do what benefits them (such as a dog's loyalty to their protector) and you don't have to be a philosopher to acknowledge that instinct doesn't always equivilate to intelligence. Of course humans and animals relate. We're all born and bred to survive. Never underestimate an organism's will to breed and survive.

This is a peeve of mine as well. Except what disturbes me is that people say animals are stupid, and then use that to justify the idea that animals' lives are worthless. I frequently hear a lot of jokes in the media about animals in pain or about animals dying/being killed (sometimes horribly, such as being shoved down the garbage disposal). It shows how our society doesn't value life, especially the lives of animals.
Another example: I once overheard a teen say that she didn't understand how people can get emotionally attached to animals, and then say that she didn't understand what's wrong with putting an animal down, even if it was only minorly sick. Funnily enough, she's interested in becoming a vet.

Yeah. And people don't realize that even the simplest of animals have a "personality". People look at a flock of chickens or a herd of cows and don't see them as distinct individuals but they are.

I think humans over estimate their own intelligence. Our damn egos often make us forget we too have animal instincts and they are quite useful.

Actually, I think more humans OVERestimate dogs than underestimate them, at least in America.

Not only that but value them at less. People sometimes think animals do not feel anything. So getting that pet does not mean that pet depends on you. You are raising another creatures child. It is still a child if you believe it or not. We have children of all species. Mearly being human does not make us more worthy. Not all people are perfect and not all people are trust worthy. So why willingly put them above something you are directly responsible for. That is like tossing your child away to same everyone else.

I feel that sometimes it's the humans (Species: Homo sapiens sapiens), which are really the most stupid creatures.
Take, for instance, this very stupid person, who thought it would be a hyper-intelligent idea to wear a dress with a pattern similar to an African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) and 'pose' for photographs next to a Rhinoceros.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21031454

They probably blamed the Rhino.

When I was a kid, my moms boyfriend told me animals don't have feelings :/ Man am I glad I was a smart kid with my own views and ideas. What a thing to say...

People underestimate me and I'm a bird!

I do think that many animals are intelligent and some have developed clever ways to use the ever changing environment around them. For example many birds drop snails onto roads to then swoop down and reclaim the snail once the cars have destroyed the shell. My springer spaniel however used to chase after the ball I had pretended to throw that was actually still in my hand. Everytime I would have to put the ball infront of her as the sight of an apparent " gun dog" running over the same patch of grass looking confused and bewildered eventually stopped being funny and just got a little sad. She was a brilliant, lovley dog but my god was she thick.

People tend to forget that we are animals too.

Yes and some people do not realize they have feelings too.

Michel Montaigne totally agrees with you. I am not sure.

Yes, I feel underestimaed all the time :(

Lol, why did you Youtube that?:P Haha. Anyway, yeah, I agree. Some people really do underestimate animals, probably because they don't know anything about them. I think the more you find out, the more surprised people get at how great animals can be. I personally think animals are fantastic. They never cease to amaze and amuse me!:D

I personally think that animals are smarter than humans!! Take that!! haha well not all animals, I just mean that animals are smarter than some human beings in the way that they are so innocent and pure, eg: they don't go raping people, murdering ect. I mean not all people so that, only the bad ones. I just reckon that animals are themselves and run by instincts not thoughts which is created by the human mind which can be very dangerous. Plus! Animals are so cute and cuddly esp dogs and cats, frogs and lizards. And Yes I do think some people underestimate animals, it's because they don't understand how they work :)

All humans who own dogs, especially the pit bull-type dogs, underestimate them. They think their gentle, sweet, loving pooches (I hate that fucking word) will never harm them, then the demon fleabag tears them, a member of their family, or someone else, apart!