Blog: SouthPaws of the Animal Kingdom

When people first hear the name “SouthPaw Animal Clinic”, they may think it is a clever play on words using “paw” for a clinic located “south” of the river. However, for anyone that has paid attention when I am writing, you will quickly notice that I am a “SouthPaw” or “Lefty” (as are many of our pet parents…go SouthPaws!) Since August 13^th is Left Handers’ Day, I thought this week’s blog should share some fun left-handed animal related facts. So here are 12 facts about left handedness in the animal kingdom:

1. Many animals show an individual preference for handedness. This means that each animal will typically have a preference for using their left or right side more dominantly.
2. Although the human population is predominantly right handed (90% right-handed and 10% left-handed), animals tend to be split 50-50 in their preference.
3. There does not seem to be a genetic link between handedness in animals. Therefore, mating two left-handed animals or two right-handed animals will still yield the same 50-50 mix of left and right handed preference.
4. It is said that all Polar bears are left-handed, although I have found differing opinions on this.
5. A study by Dr. Calum Brown of Macquarie University states that Sulfur Crested Cockatoos are entirely left handed.
6. According to a studies done by neuroscientist Bill Hopkins, Orangutans and a population of wild Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys are predominantly left-handed.
7. Further research by Bill Hopkins has found that captive Chimpanzees tend to show that 30-40% of the population prefers to use their left hand.
8. A study from Queens University in Belfast shows that intact male cats and dogs tend to prefer their left, however this seems to go away after they are neutered. This suggests a hormonal component to handedness. (In humans, men are more likely to be left-handed than women.)
9. It is said that dogs wag their tails to the left when agitated. (I thought a wag went both ways though…so I’m not sure how this one works.)
10. Fish tend to consistently turn to one preferred side when avoiding predators indicating “handedness” but as a population are still split 50-50.
11. Kangaroos and other marsupials in the wild seem to have a left-handed preference for everyday tasks.
12. Many apes in wild populations do everyday tasks with their right hands but do tasks requiring speed with their left hands.

Handedness in animals continues to help us learn about handedness in people and we are always fascinated to learn more. Do you have another fact about left-handedness that you would like to share? Leave them in the comments!