little animals

　　Who hasn't played hide-and-see, hop-scotch, pin the tailing on the donkey? Young animals and particularly the babies of the mammals also spend a lot of time playing. Animals play three types of games. The first consists of[1] exploring its territory. Animals play with whatever they find: a piece of wood, a stone sometimes even an unknown animal. In this way the young animal learns about its environment. Another social[2] game consists of trying to be like the adults. But they exaggerate all the movements running from the leader, fights, hunting. All these young baboons are copying[3] their parents movement. But they amplify them in a disorganized way and with one imperative: We're only kidding[4]. So no one gets hurt in fighting. The third type of game is a way for the animal to use its muscles. These impala are discovering their impressive power to leap and their speed in fleeing. What is, for the moment, only a game will probably save their lives when they are attacked by predators. To avoid any misunderstanding, the animals generally have precise ways of mimicking[5] behavior to indicate to other members of the group that it's only a game because these playful frolicking could otherwise create a real battle.

可爱的小动物

　　谁没有玩过躲迷藏、跳房子、蒙眼睛钉猪尾巴的游戏呢？小动物们尤其是哺乳动物的小宝宝们也同样花许多时间在玩。动物的玩法有三种：首先是在它自己的区域内探险。凡是它能找到的它都会拿来玩，一块木头、一块石头、有时甚至是不知名的小动物。借这种方法动物学会了认识环境。另一个玩法是“模仿长者”. 但是它们会夸大所有的动作跑步、争斗、捕猎. 这些小狒狒都是在模仿它们的父母的举动，但是它们把这些举动变成捣蛋的方法。他们唯一的口号是：我们闹着玩的，所以没有任何一个会在争斗中受伤。第三种玩法开始运用它们的肌肉. 这些非洲羚羊不断发掘它们跳跃的潜力以及它们逃避的速度。这也许在未来遭受掠食者攻击时会救它们一命. 为了避免误解，动物在模仿同类举止时会明显得表现出是在玩。因为这些打闹嬉戏有时也可能变成真的战役。