Self-anointing in animals

Self-anointing is when animals rub themselves with a strange or new scent. This mostly happens in mammals, such as monkeys, cats, and hedgehogs. When an animal comes across an unusual smell, their instincts tell them to investigate further. They sniff the smell, lick it, and sometimes even take a little bite out of it.

After the animal has tasted the unknown smell, something happens in their brain that tells them to spread this smell all over their body. So, they'll lick their fur, rub themselves in it, and may even roll around in whatever smelly thing they've found. It's like putting on a perfume that they really like, but instead of just putting it in one spot, they cover their entire body with it.

The reason why animals do this is still a bit of a mystery. Some scientists think self-anointing is a way for animals to gather information about their surroundings. By marking themselves with new smells, they may be able to identify other animals in their territory or find food sources. Others believe self-anointing may be a way for animals to decrease their own scent so that they are less noticeable to predators. Whatever the reason, self-anointing is a fascinating and instinctual behavior that many animals exhibit.