ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Niko Tinbergen

Niko Tinbergen was a very smart man who studied animals to understand how they behave in their natural environment, kind of like how we study people to learn how they act and think. He was also really good at figuring out the reasons behind why animals do certain things, kinda like how we ask questions to understand why our friends do things. He looked at things like the way animals communicate, how they mate or fight, and how baby animals learn from their parents.

One of his most famous ideas was that animals have four main reasons why they do things: to find food, to protect themselves, to find a mate, and to take care of their babies. He made lots of discoveries about different animals using this idea, and even won a special prize for it!

Overall, Niko Tinbergen was a scientist who studied animals and how they behave to help us better understand them, just like how our teachers help us learn about the world around us.