0:00:26.467,0:00:28.747 It was March 11, 2020 0:00:28.747,0:00:31.387 when the WHO declared 0:00:31.387,0:00:36.427 that Covid-19 was, to all intents[br]and purposes, a pandemic. 0:00:37.307,0:00:43.427 I remember how, until a few days before,[br]many of us were rather skeptical 0:00:43.427,0:00:46.227 about the potential[br]of this new coronavirus, 0:00:46.886,0:00:49.457 also on the basis of expert advice. 0:00:49.987,0:00:55.907 Yet on that day, on that[br]11 March 2020, I wondered: 0:00:55.907,0:00:59.427 but if really our species,[br]the Homo Sapiens, 0:00:59.427,0:01:01.427 face a pandemic, 0:01:02.067,0:01:07.347 face a health crisis, 0:01:07.347,0:01:09.227 a huge spread of infections, 0:01:09.827,0:01:13.027 we would really be able[br]to plan the interventions 0:01:13.027,0:01:14.037 effectively? 0:01:15.067,0:01:18.947 At the time, it was rather difficult[br]to answer this question: 0:01:20.147,0:01:23.787 yet I began to wonder, precisely, 0:01:24.387,0:01:26.107 what this infection was, 0:01:26.107,0:01:27.467 what it represented 0:01:27.467,0:01:30.353 not so much for our species,[br]but also for other species. 0:01:31.187,0:01:32.797 In fact, we humans 0:01:32.797,0:01:37.091 we are definitely[br]not the only animals, species 0:01:37.091,0:01:40.667 which faces as tough[br]a challenge as a pandemic. 0:01:41.467,0:01:44.067 And so, starting from[br]my academic background, 0:01:44.827,0:01:46.427 from my various experiences, 0:01:46.427,0:01:48.147 I have begun to consider 0:01:48.707,0:01:52.707 that there really are[br]so many cases, in nature, 0:01:52.707,0:01:56.439 of infection control behaviours: 0:01:56.439,0:01:58.467 hygienic behaviour. 0:01:59.187,0:02:02.707 For example, we could mention[br]the case of birds. 0:02:02.707,0:02:06.387 Some of these species,[br]such as sparrows or flocks, 0:02:06.947,0:02:11.467 they use a very, I might say,[br]bizarre behavior 0:02:11.467,0:02:13.187 which is fumigation, 0:02:13.187,0:02:16.427 very similar to what we do[br]in the house with incense. 0:02:16.427,0:02:19.027 That is, they apply aromatic herbs - 0:02:19.027,0:02:21.957 in some cases, they are also[br]cigarette butts - 0:02:21.957,0:02:23.907 inside the nest. 0:02:24.427,0:02:28.627 The purpose is to disinfect it,[br]to make it more sanitized 0:02:28.627,0:02:31.467 to reduce the possibility[br]of disease occurrence; 0:02:31.467,0:02:33.008 and so it's absolutely similar 0:02:33.008,0:02:36.227 to what we do in our homes,[br]perhaps with incense. 0:02:36.582,0:02:38.747 And then, turning to the world of mammals, 0:02:38.747,0:02:41.427 we find a true master of hygiene: 0:02:41.427,0:02:42.507 the badger. 0:02:42.507,0:02:44.907 In our woods, the badger[br]is a night dweller, 0:02:45.407,0:02:47.367 and lives in dens, 0:02:47.367,0:02:50.427 usually covered with mosses,[br]leaves and shrubs. 0:02:51.427,0:02:54.227 Especially in the winter months, 0:02:54.227,0:02:56.827 the rate usually changes this coating, 0:02:56.827,0:03:00.627 exposes it to the sun[br]and replaces the foliage. 0:03:00.627,0:03:01.637 Why is that? 0:03:01.637,0:03:05.507 Because it reduces the possibility[br]of parasite proliferation 0:03:05.507,0:03:07.467 or any pathogens. 0:03:08.347,0:03:13.467 Besides, we have some cases[br]of cosmetics, so body care. 0:03:13.467,0:03:18.267 The example of brown capuchine monkeys,[br]these monkeys coming from South America 0:03:18.267,0:03:21.427 that use a kind of mosquito spray. 0:03:22.027,0:03:26.667 They exploit the irritating substance[br]produced by the millipedes, 0:03:27.267,0:03:31.827 to remove mosquitoes and avoid bites. 0:03:31.827,0:03:35.027 And then we have the case[br]of African elephants, 0:03:35.027,0:03:40.147 elephants using clay,[br]they sprinkle it on the skin, 0:03:40.147,0:03:42.547 to reduce the chance of sunburn 0:03:42.547,0:03:46.787 which clearly could then compromise[br]their immune system 0:03:46.787,0:03:50.947 and thus increase the risk[br]of infectious diseases. 0:03:51.507,0:03:54.747 And so, faced with this scenario, 0:03:54.747,0:03:55.907 we might ask ourselves: 0:03:56.472,0:03:58.057 but what has this got to do, 0:03:58.057,0:04:03.187 with what we have, for example,[br]in this current pandemic? 0:04:03.187,0:04:07.467 Well, if we tried to take[br]a closer look at the animal world, 0:04:08.027,0:04:10.257 we will notice that many of the behaviors 0:04:10.257,0:04:13.187 that we are putting in place[br]in recent months 0:04:13.187,0:04:15.867 are completely similar, if not identical, 0:04:15.867,0:04:19.187 to those that are implemented[br]by other animal species. 0:04:20.147,0:04:22.067 And so, talking about mammals, 0:04:22.067,0:04:25.037 we could quote our cousins,[br]the chimpanzees. 0:04:25.587,0:04:30.387 Indeed, according to the observations[br]of the British ethologist Jane Goodall, 0:04:31.027,0:04:33.707 and more recently confirmed[br]by scientific studies, 0:04:34.307,0:04:36.067 when, within the group, 0:04:36.067,0:04:40.787 a chimpanzee expresses[br]clear symptoms of an infectious disease 0:04:41.347,0:04:44.707 is pushed off the group,[br]even with some violence, 0:04:45.747,0:04:47.947 until he recuperates. 0:04:48.667,0:04:52.107 At that point, he can[br]be reinserted into the group. 0:04:52.827,0:04:57.227 So in this case we see[br]how the common, collective good 0:04:57.227,0:05:01.707 comes before the interests[br]of the individuals. 0:05:01.707,0:05:04.587 And it's an absolutely very similar case 0:05:04.587,0:05:08.347 to what we might call[br]"quarantine" or "social distancing" 0:05:08.347,0:05:09.357 for us humans. 0:05:09.947,0:05:13.867 Let's now focus[br]on a completely different world, 0:05:13.867,0:05:15.220 to the world of insects. 0:05:15.220,0:05:17.587 in fact, domestic bees 0:05:17.587,0:05:21.787 are the real inventors[br]of disinfectant gel. 0:05:21.787,0:05:24.867 Inside the hive, we find the propolis. 0:05:25.787,0:05:27.907 It is a substance made by bees, 0:05:27.907,0:05:30.430 starting from a vegetable resin, 0:05:30.430,0:05:32.547 and is used for a specific purpose: 0:05:32.547,0:05:37.947 to reduce the chance[br]of infections inside the hive 0:05:37.947,0:05:39.053 between individuals 0:05:39.053,0:05:42.907 and also, somehow,[br]as a disinfectant cement, 0:05:42.907,0:05:44.592 to seal the various cells, 0:05:44.592,0:05:47.587 and then make the hive even safer. 0:05:48.328,0:05:49.387 Why do I quote bees? 0:05:49.387,0:05:53.827 Because actually social insects,[br]like ants or termites, 0:05:53.827,0:05:56.667 are a true example to us humans, 0:05:56.667,0:05:59.307 because many of the behaviors[br]they put in place, 0:06:00.107,0:06:03.147 from the point of view of coordination[br]as a superorganism, 0:06:03.147,0:06:06.267 are actually really effective behaviors 0:06:06.267,0:06:08.027 and that should make us think 0:06:08.027,0:06:11.987 as we, Homo Sapiens,[br]are a social species also; 0:06:11.987,0:06:13.787 but we find ourselves in deep trouble 0:06:13.787,0:06:17.827 in coordinating and allying[br]against a common enemy. 0:06:18.387,0:06:21.507 And so, at this point[br]it would be legit to wonder: 0:06:21.507,0:06:24.827 can we really learn[br]something from animals 0:06:24.827,0:06:27.747 on the subject of immunity, hygiene 0:06:27.747,0:06:30.307 or infection control? 0:06:31.267,0:06:35.227 Well, a lot of scientific studies tell us[br]how, in recent years, 0:06:35.227,0:06:40.027 a great increase has been observed[br]in so-called emerging diseases, 0:06:40.027,0:06:43.907 these new infections[br]caused by a spillover, 0:06:43.907,0:06:45.700 a jump from a species to another. 0:06:46.187,0:06:49.907 And despite our species, Homo Sapiens, 0:06:49.907,0:06:52.263 they had to face in a more remote past 0:06:53.147,0:06:54.627 some very serious pandemics, 0:06:54.627,0:06:58.587 such as the plague, such as Spanish flu, 0:06:58.587,0:07:04.787 or more recently devastating viruses[br]such as HIV and Ebola, 0:07:04.787,0:07:10.707 despite this, Covid 19[br]admittedly surprised us, 0:07:11.227,0:07:17.667 and somehow shattered the idea[br]of Homo Sapiens ruling the world, 0:07:17.667,0:07:22.987 and instead made us rediscover[br]vulnerable, fragile as a species. 0:07:24.267,0:07:29.147 So, in light of all[br]this dramatic scenario, 0:07:29.147,0:07:30.947 there's some good news. 0:07:31.787,0:07:34.907 In fact, we have a second chance today. 0:07:34.907,0:07:38.107 The time has come to change our vision, 0:07:38.867,0:07:41.667 and take a biocentric perspective 0:07:42.187,0:07:46.107 that allows us to recreate[br]a harmonious relationship 0:07:46.107,0:07:49.187 with other animal species[br]and with all nature. 0:07:50.427,0:07:53.307 Until these decades,[br]our relationship with nature 0:07:53.307,0:07:54.347 was toxic: 0:07:54.867,0:07:58.429 we have polluted, we have deforested, 0:07:58.429,0:08:04.147 we have consumed the soil,[br]destroyed habitats of animal species. 0:08:04.147,0:08:07.667 And today, at last,[br]we really have a Second Chance. 0:08:08.667,0:08:10.909 So, at this point we should ask ourselves, 0:08:10.909,0:08:13.747 how animals could come in handy? 0:08:13.747,0:08:14.787 If any, 0:08:14.787,0:08:16.907 as we have seen in these cases, 0:08:16.907,0:08:18.734 we humans haven't invented much: 0:08:18.734,0:08:22.827 on the contrary, the animals[br]have really anticipated us, 0:08:22.827,0:08:24.267 with great effectiveness. 0:08:24.267,0:08:28.507 And so, right now, maybe, we could think 0:08:28.507,0:08:31.987 that animals could teach us something. 0:08:32.507,0:08:37.827 Even, perhaps, to better manage[br]a possible future pandemic.