do animals know they will eventually die?

[crabbyback]

is that the difference between the intelligence that separates Humans from less introspective creatures?

as humans we are aware of our mortality. whether that influences our lives or not is definitely up to the person.

but do animals instinctively know they will die someday?

stoned thoughts always appreciated!

We know that some animals recognize death and some can reason out "what comes next" quite well. Just one case in point - pigs going to slaughter; if the pigs further back in the chutes or queues see, hear, or smell what is going on up ahead, they begin to panic. That says to me, "they get it".