Comment by krisoft

> Most animals take care of their wounded peers

The "most" part is not true. Some animals take care of wounded peers. Specifically social animals do. Ants, elephants, monkeys, whales are good examples of social animals and they do take care of their wounded peers.

Many animals are solitary. There is nobody to take care of a wounded polar bear, guppy, owl or c. elegans in the wild.

We can't even say that most animals are social. Perhaps by biomass, but definitely not by diversity.

> often enough to be on countless documentaries

That says more about what we humans find interesting and worthy of documenting.

> not driven by interest or strategy. Compassion is innate.

Something can be both innate and strategical. Having the innate drive to help wounded conspecifics can increase the surival of the whole species.

> Cruelty and contempt for the weak is a specifically human trait

Absolutely not. What does that even mean? When a lion takes over a pride they are documented to kill the cubs sired by the prior male. Is that "cruelty and contempt for the weak"? We would sure label as such if they were human males killing a dad and moving in with mom killing her babes. Should I find more examples of "cruelty and contempt for the weak" in the animal kingdom? There are tons. Cruelty and contempt for the weak is not a uniquely human trait.

> But why wouldn't they??

This is fundamentally the wrong question to ask.