Animals have character, too - and it can cost them their lives

The study was conducted on crows living in the Dead Sea area, where human influence - tourism, infrastructure and economic activities - is growing.

The scientists noticed that the birds behave differently: some are more cautious, while others are more risk-taking.

Details

In laboratory conditions, the researchers tested how crows react to new objects, unfamiliar food and the presence of people. It turned out that each bird's behaviour was stable: "brave" individuals were more likely to take risks in any situation, while "cautious" ones avoided them.

Then the birds were monitored in the nature with GPS-trackers.

It turned out that brave crows are more likely to stay close to people - for example, near tourist spots, where it is easier to find food. But in doing so, they are at greater risk.

Cautious birds, on the other hand, stay away from people and are more likely to survive.

Why it matters

The results show that the survival of animals depends not only on the environment, but also on their behaviour.

This means:

• not all animals adapt to humans in the same way
• risky behaviours can provide short-term benefits but reduce the chances of survival
• individual differences can affect the fate of entire populations

Scientists note that in a rapidly changing environment, not all species have time to adapt.

Background

Biology has long debated the concept of 'character' in animals - persistent differences in behaviour.

It is thought that such differences can affect feeding, reproduction and survival, especially in the face of human pressures.

Source

The study is published in the journal Ecology Letters (2026). Scientists from Israel, Austria and the UK studied the behaviour of crows in the laboratory and in the wild using GPS observations.