moscow’s dogs – learning to ride the subway (and other adaptations)
This is amazing. Moscow’s many stray dogs are adapting to the harsh conditions of that city, some even learning to ride the subway and get off on the right stops! (Many humans are barely able to do that.)
From the article (emphasis added):
But beggar dogs have evolved the most specialized behavior. Relying on scraps of food from commuters, the beggar dogs can not only recognize which humans are most likely to give them something to eat, but have evolved to ride the subway. Using scents, and the ability to recognize the train conductor’s names for different stops, they incorporate many stations into their territories.
Additionally, Poyarkov says the pack structure of the beggars reflects a reliance on brain over brawn for survival. In the beggar packs, the smartest dog, not the most physically dominant, occupies the alpha male position.