Animals in captivity have their food presented to them; they don’t need to worry about marking their territory or looking for mates the way an animal in the wild would. All those activities take time and energy, and if those needs are removed, the animals get bored. A playmate—even an unorthodox one—can be more satisfying than a meal. The animal’s motivation to engage socially and playfully maybe was higher in its need hierarchy than eating. There’s an 85% chance that Amur will end up eating his new friend.

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