THE LAST WORD
By Pat Coughlan
I remember that day well. I was in 6th class at our rural primary school in West Waterford. My friend Davy, ever cheeky, asked, in Irish,: “An bhfuil cead agam dul amach go dti an leithreas?” We all knew he wanted a sneaky fag behind the shed. The toilet was just an excuse. Miss pointed to the door without lifting her eyes from the Dungarvan Leader, and we grinned like Cheshire cats.
Suddenly, Davy burst back in, yelling: “Miss, Miss, Tommy Quinn’s calf is cowing!” Meaning the cow was calving, but in such drama, who cared about accuracy? Miss, curious, dashed off with us trailing behind. It turned into an unexpected field trip, quickly aborted as she ordered Davy to inform the Quinns, marching us back to class. That was my only brush with sex education in primary school or indeed any other school.
I thought about that event recently while watching the antics of dolphins frolicking in the waves. A question nudged its way into my mind: are humans truly the only species to have a bit of ‘hows yer father’ just for a laugh? Or do our animal counterparts occasionally indulge in the pleasures of the flesh for something other than reproduction?
I’ve always been fascinated by the antics of our furry and feathered friends, especially when it comes to their love lives. I suppose that is from watching programmes on TV like Spring Watch and Winter Watch `– great TV from the masters of great TV, the BBC.
Did you know that penguins propose with pebbles? Or that some birds perform elaborate dances to woo their mates? My research into animal behaviour has revealed a world where pleasure isn’t just a human luxury. From the playful frolics of otters to the amorous escapades of bonobos, it seems many creatures indulge in a bit of fun between the sheets – or should I say, nests and burrows!
When I first heard that dolphins and bonobos engage in sexual activities for fun, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Imagine dolphins, those sleek, smiling sea creatures, having a cheeky romp just for the sheer joy of it! And bonobos, our closest primate cousins, are practically the hippies of the animal kingdom, using sex as a way to bond, resolve conflicts, and, well, just because they can. It’s like a never-ending love fest in the jungle and the ocean!
When I think about human sexuality, it’s like a buffet of emotions, desires, and sometimes, questionable decisions. Now, compare that to the animal kingdom, where dolphins and bonobos are the life of the party, engaging in playful antics that would make even the most liberal human blush. While we humans might light candles and play music, animals keep it raw and instinctual, yet somehow, they seem to enjoy it just as much, if not more.
Ah, the science of sexual pleasure – a topic that’s as titillating as it is enlightening. You see, it’s not just humans who get a kick out of a good romp. Scientists have discovered that the brain’s reward system, particularly the release of dopamine, plays a crucial role in sexual enjoyment. This chemical cocktail isn’t exclusive to us; our animal friends, like dolphins and bonobos, also experience this euphoric rush. It’s fascinating to think that pleasure, in all its forms, is a universal language.
I once read about a pair of penguins in a zoo who were so enamoured with each other that they performed a little dance before, well, getting down to business. It made me chuckle to think of these tuxedoed lovebirds putting on a show. And who could forget the tale of the amorous tortoises, whose slow-motion courtship is both endearing and hilarious?
These stories remind me that, whether human or animal, the pursuit of pleasure is a universal comedy.
