Mammalian males are redundant. Kill 90% of them and the tribe’s birthrate barely ripples. As a result, the young ones are wired to risk death.
- Cave bear? “Send me in, Chief!”
- Neighbouring tribe has cattle? “Let me go, Chief!!”
That’s just two of the countless ways that our species has dealt with the oversupply of young males. Those that fail to eliminate themselves from the gene pool go on to breed and in later years lead the tribe.
Today, it’s not so easy, but we are an ingenious species and have invented cars, snowboards, basejumping, and kayaking over waterfalls.
