Social care is largely a mammalian trait, but only ever extends to in-group members. And if the pack or herd member is sensed to be the weakest link, it is quite frequent that the pack or herd will abandon them or intentionally sacrifice them.
Humans are unique in that they go through extraordinary lengths to rehabilitate members, sometimes investing years or decades or even caring for humans that could literally not survive on their own or without advanced technology.
Likewise humans will abandon injured members of their party on Everest. They do the same in wartime. Given dire situations, humans also perform this behavior even in the modern era.
Not really, no. Herd animals will regularly intentionally abandon wounded or elderly peers during an attack.
Sometimes they will even intentionally knock down slow members to make an easy meal for predators, ensuring their own survival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ_7GtE529M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqyMw7udKtI
Social care is largely a mammalian trait, but only ever extends to in-group members. And if the pack or herd member is sensed to be the weakest link, it is quite frequent that the pack or herd will abandon them or intentionally sacrifice them.
Humans are unique in that they go through extraordinary lengths to rehabilitate members, sometimes investing years or decades or even caring for humans that could literally not survive on their own or without advanced technology.