The Dogs of Moscow (You won't believe this!)

[Playinghardball]

Found on the I fucking love science Facebook page

Stray Dogs Master Complex Moscow Subway System

Animals in the wild have to continually contend with the expansion of human civilization. Certain wild animals have learned to coexist and even thrive in urban settings, pigeons and raccoons being obvious examples.

Well, subway goers in Moscow are becoming familiar with stray dogs. These dogs have become accustomed to using the subway system as a means to travel across Moscow, even managing to catch a nap along the way. The dogs hop on in the morning and travel to the city center where they spend the day begging for scraps. At the end of the day they get back on the subway and travel to the suburbs where they sleep in relative safety.

The dogs have become experts at judging the length of time they need to stay on the train, and seem to work together to ensure that they exit the subway at the right stop.

Scientists believe this phenomenon began after the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, and Russia’s new capitalists moved industrial complexes from the city center to the suburbs.

Dr Andrei Poiarkov, of the Moscow Ecology and Evolution Institute, said: “These complexes were used by homeless dogs as shelters, so the dogs had to move together with their houses. Because the best scavenging for food is in the city center, the dogs had to learn how to travel on the subway – to get to the center in the morning, then back home in the evening, just like people.”

More info: http://abcn.ws/O0KmgP

[octothorpe]

1. I wonder if there are any documentary (discovery style stuff) on this?

I need to search youtube.

[Honeycombe8]

2. If that were here, they'd round 'em up and kill 'em.

I wonder if that'll happen there.

How sad that there are stray dogs everywhere. Thrown away like trash, I guess.

I wonder if any of them are aggressive?

[meti57b]

3. The (human) passengers look like they are enjoying the dogs' company!!

They are smiling.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. I know I would be too!

[greytdemocrat]

4. !

This doesn't surprise me in the least. Dogs are damn smart.

Even commie ones.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

17. !

LOL!

[Cha]

5. Wow! Not quite as amazing is that the dogs are

allowed on the Subway. Good for them.

thanks Play

[TheMadMonk]

6. pigeons did it first in Stockholm.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/swedish-pigeons-opt-for-subway/story-e6frfku0-1226192063905

[pinboy3niner]

7. Of course--they're Basenjirs

[mahina]

9. This guy looks more shefardhundt.

[MsPithy]

8. Canine social structure is closer to human

than the great apes.

[ErikJ]

10. Yes, except humans cooperatively hunt with sharp spears rather than teeth.

Desmond Morris said it best, we are wolves with sharp weapons and no hair.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

16. coo! thanks for the quote

Interesting. That puts us in the same tent as wolv. we ==the predator tent!

Yeah, I'd say that's an accurate observation. Yecch.

[MormonDemocrat]

11. poor doggy getting old

poor doggy looks like she's getting old. Nobody to take care of her, as she can no longer walk without pain, left to struggle and die slowly on the streets, alone. This veil of tears isn't just for us.

[TeamPooka]

12. K&R!

[B Stieg]

13. Here's footage. These dogs are amazing.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. OMG! This is fascinating! I gave GOT to read this later.

Dammit, makes me wish I were in grad school!