News from the Natural World: Albatrosses are set to host marriage counselling sessions for humans struggling with the reality of long term relationships.
Long has the human world suffered from rising divorce rates. Conventional wisdom goes that around 50% of marriages end in divorce. In addition, divorce rates have increased in recent years. Almost 50% of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation. Furthermore, researchers estimate that 41% of all first marriages end in divorce. The average overall divorce rate in England and Wales is 33.3%, based on all marriages over the past 50+ years between 1964 to 2019. The sad reality of the human world is that divorce rates are increasing all around the planet. Human relationship experts warn the pandemic-induced break-up curve may not have peaked yet either.
Humans Struggling With Divorce Rates
But why do humans get divorced so much? What are the most common reasons people give for their divorce? Research has found the most common reasons humans give for their divorce are lack of commitment, too much arguing, infidelity, marrying too young, unrealistic expectations, lack of equality in the relationship, lack of preparation for marriage, and abuse. They also forgot the crippling guilt that comes with being human and realising your greedy little existence threatens all life on earth. But the animal kingdom has decided to step in and help the worlds most annoying great ape out. Which animal did they send? Why the Albatross of course.
Black-Browed Albatrosses in the Falkland Islands are famously known for bonding for life. The Albatrosses‘ lifelong partnerships are truly exceptional. In most bird species partnerships do not last much longer than a single breeding season. But Albatrosses are just different. Firstly, they are very picky. It can take them 15 years to decide on a partner. But having decided, Albatrosses just don’t change. In fact, they will stick faithfully with their mate until one of them dies, which might not be for another fifty years. These exceptional birds have been brought in to help humans learn some lessons about love. But Keith and Janet, the first humans to be offered counselling sessions, with Bert the Black-Browed Albatross were very sceptical – “What the bloody hell can some big winged bird teach us. Only humans can experience love!”