Horsemen will always tell you that horses sense emotions(情感),especially fear. Now a new small study says not only can horses sense human emotions, they can also read human expressions and remember them for later.

Researchers at the universities in the UK held experiments in which horses were shown large photos of either an angry or a happy person. Several hours later, the horses met that man in person but with no expression.

However, the horses reacted based on how they saw the man in the photo, turning their look in a certain direction. When horses saw the person they had seen wearing an angry look in the photo, they spent more time looking with the left eye. They also showed signs of anxiety(焦虑). But when the horses saw the person they had seen smiling in the photo, they spent more time looking with the right eye.

“What we've found is that horses can not only read human facial expressions, but they can also remember a person's previous (先前的) emotional state when they meet them later that day, and, importantly, that they change their behavior accordingly," Professor Karen McComb from the University of Sussex said in a statement.

The horses seemed to have made a quick judgment on the person based only on the expression in the photo. The researchers believe having this ability helps horses with social bonding and avoid possible dangers.

“It is quite an amazing result really,” McComb told The Guardian. “It is really interesting that animals are picking up on the detailed emotional expressions that humans are showing on a moment—to—moment basis.

Importantly in taking that information in, they don't forget it, but they use it—they have a memory for the emotional states that they have seen in humans and they use that information.”

We love our pets. In fact, for most people they are more than me re pets and become more like family members. It is likely then that their owners, at some point, are going to want photographs of their furry friends. However, pet photography presents its own special problems. 【小题1】 If you’re thinking of trying pet photography, here are a few pointers to get you started.

Find out about your subject’s personality and habits. Where does it nod off if the sun is out? What is its favourite toy? 【小题2】 It’s also worth spending a little time getting to know the animal yourself. Cats, dogs, horses, they all have personality, and you need to ensure they are comfortable being around you, and you around them.

【小题3】 If the pet is comfortable with you, and if it isn’t too nervous, fill the frame with the pet’s face. Get the eyes nice and sharp. Just like humans, this is a natural point of focus, although focusing on the nose or mouth of a dog or cat can also make for an interesting image in its own right.

See the world from pets’ perspective. If you photograph a pet while you’re standing up, all you’re going to see is the top of their head and their backs, not what you want for a portrait. Get down to their eye level. Try pre-focusing your camera and just holding it at ground level so you can look up at the pet. 【小题4】.

Bring a flash with the owner’s permission. While greeting or playing with a new pet, fire a couple of test flashes away from them to see their reaction. In daylight particularly, they never seem to mind the flash at all. 【小题5】.

Four Wild Animal Species Were Endangered

Maybe you can still see them at the zoo. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing alright in the wild.

Tigers

All six tiger species are endangered, with Sumatran tigers and South Chin tigers at a seriously endangered status. The main reasons for their population decline are illegal hunting and destroyed habitats(栖息地), as humans clear forests to gather timber（木材）and build roadways. Only about 3890 tigers presently live in the wild.

Ground squirrels

That’s right, even squirrels are endangered, specifically the San Joaquin ground squirrel. Native to California, USA, these guys have been disappearing since 1979 on account of the construction and human developments going through their habitat. Their total population is unknown , but it could be anywhere between 124000 and 413000.

Giraffes

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently put giraffes at a vulnerable status, the level just before endangered. The giraffe population has declined 40 percent in the last 30 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and illegal hunting. Some giraffes are killed just for their tails, which are considered status symbols in Africa.

Asian elephants

The main threat to Asian elephants, one of the most intelligent animals, is their shrinking habitat. As the human population grows, people invade their land to build roads and railway tracks. Elephants in Myanmar are at an especially high risk for being captured and traded or used illegally in the tourist industry. Fewer than 50000 are left on the entire continent.