Animals have a lot of sensory abilities that humans either do not have a all (magnetic, thermal radiation, detecting directions from water wave patterns) or only in another bandwidth (e.g. of electromagnetic waves; smell). Some of these abilities have only recently been found (sometimes much to the surprise of the respective scientists) many of them are still awaiting detection.

Since times of old special and at times ununderstandable abilities of animals have puzzled humans. Sometimes a clever researcher has found the reason for an ability, e.g. in the Clver Hans case, many puzzles are not solved yet.

From what I know about animal cognition and sensory abilities I see no reason at this time to postulate extrasensory perception instead of (not yet known or know but not used yet for explanation) sensory perception. I see no evidence or need yet to leave the sensory domain. That's interesting, surprising and puzzling enough for me.

In the 1960s and 70s there were loads of laboratory experiments on paranormal feats or abilities of animals (often cats trying to make shine a warming lamp more often than could be expected by chance). This work has died down since one of the best known researchers (Levy) was caught cheating. Even today's parapsychologists don't look back at this research as convincing.

Wolfgang

Wolfgang