7. Licking and chewing can be cute, but sometimes the reason behind it isn’t nearly as cute.
Another stereotypical behavior that we may find cute is licking and sometimes chewing on things that are not food. When exhibited in animals like rabbits, who need to chew to manage their dental health, it’s typically not a problem. However, when this behavior is exhibited by animals who don’t normally do this, particularly primates and giraffes, it points towards a significant issue. While it may be found amusing to watch a giraffe lick the bars of its cage or enclosure, it means that the animal is unstimulated, bored, and possibly even suffering from zoochosis (via Ranker).
What is zoochosis? Well, zoochosis is a mental illness brought on by captivity in an environment that does not meet the animal’s needs (via IDA USA). This condition often occurs in many zoo animals, hence the name. Although zoos can help animals by providing medical care and food sources, the concept of being held in a cage instead of roaming free can often hurt animals. People can see these mental issues displayed in several unusual animal behaviors that may seem cute and harmless, but are actually a sign of a deeper, underlying medical problem.