Sex in the animal realm

Most of us enjoy watching all those fine documentaries about wildlife so many TV channels have been producing and presenting this last decade, I'd say. Some of them are works of art indeed. True masterpieces, both visually and scientifically, no doubt about that either.

However, I've been noticing an increase of curiosity focused on animal sexual behaviour these last few years, which per se wouldn't be objectionable at all if only…

Some weeks ago (July 26.th) I posted (in Portuguese) a set of arguments for sexualities of the human species. This was brought about by a documentary I had watched called «Out in Nature: Homosexual Behaviour in the Animal Kingdom» (2001). I've always been a believer in science. Not blindly, true, but taking somehow for granted every research would rest upon an unquestionable ethical basis which accounted for its truthfulness… So much for my «faith»…

Well, I do believe now I couldn't be more mistaken. Yes, I agree: being too much naïf can some times be a clear symptom of imbecility…

That documentary bluntly showed me how wrong I was. Every scientist presenting his/her line of work had more or less been marginalized within their own scientific communities, and his/her research scorned.

In those «mainstream» documentaries I referred to above there seems to be a main purpose that is somehow conveyed as a «subliminal message»: sex in the animal realm stands for intercourse between male and female with reproductive purposes. And it has always been that way, don't you humans ever forget that! Yes, a reminder of the best kind…

Nice, huh? Of course, nothing is said or shown about bonobos, it goes without saying. And, by the way, what about becoming pregnant of each other at the same time, as it is the case of an Australian reefs' worm? The greatest achievement ever, wouldn't you say?…