BIG BIG UPDATE 2019 due to publications in 2018 and thereafter
There are SOME animal species.
A few animals other than of the genus Homo (and eventually of the later Australopithecus) are or were able to use fire. "Use" as in any way of using, like playing with a burning wood or extinguishing fire or lighting a fire or carry a torch, without a training by a human.
There is a saying that rhinos may trampel on burning grass. It' s not been proven and the film mentioning this behavior in Botswana is based on a saying from a different continent.
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Few animals may take advantage of fire: wasps are attracted by burnt wood to look for prey there.
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Three (3) species of Australian raptors (“firehawks”) have been proven or suspected of spreading bushfires in order to chase prey out of dense vegetation (Australian “Firehawk” Raptors Intentionally Spread Wildfires; Intentional Fire-Spreading by “Firehawk” Raptors in Northern Australia; video: Firehawk Raptors Are Predatory Birds That Start Forest Fires on Purpose). The three species are: Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) and Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus). Often these birds spread fire collectively only to chase the escaping animals together. Such groups of raptors can be as large as one hundred birds. They cannot ignite fire and have to take the opportunity given in nature.
Since the three species are not direct ancestors or descendants of each other and the attitude of using fire by them is restricted to a specific geographic area and not observed in other areas the development of this behavior cannot be accounted for by a single common nor a parallel evolution in these species. Instead, this behavior demonstrates a horizontal transfer of knowledge, known as “learning by copying”. A behavior that must be learnt by each individual animal (hawk) and passed along to the next generation and even horizontally from one species to another is called “culture” in biology, see Animal culture - Wikipedia.
The “firehawks” demonstrate the ability of animals to acquire behaviors and to be able to pass them on formerly believed to be restricted to humans only.
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Only humans (and maybe wasps) are attracted by the smell of burnt flesh. You can notice this odd behavior during barbecue season.
Only humans are attracted by burnt starch (in combination with protein, a Maillard reaction). It is the smell of baked bread or pop corn. No insect or rat goes there, we love it.
Only humans are attracted by burnt fat. This is fried food like chips. No animal sniffs for it.
We do prefere burnt food, to some extent, like roasted pea nuts.
This shows that heating food (which our ancestors may have performed since about half a million years) became already deeply rooted into our senses and inborn appreciations.
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In addition there are plants that make wild fires more easy. One of them is eukalyptus, presenting etheric oils in dead wood. In the struggle for land with other plants eukalyptus is on advantage after a fire.
So you know I checked it out!!!!!!
Thanks, Tom.
Natz 