Animal homosexual behaviour under-reported by scientists, survey shows

> Of 65 (surveyed) researchers working on 52 different species, 77% had observed same-sex sexual behaviour, such as mounting or genital stimulation, but only 48% had collected data and just 19% had published their findings, according to the study in PLOS One.

> Respondents said they were not influenced by sociopolitical concerns, but many remarked that journals appeared biased against publishing anecdotal reports compared with systematic studies.

It would be nice if The Guardian could at least acknowledge the cost/benefit trade-offs for any animal-behavior scientist (overworked, probably untenured, and always looking for more research funding) who wants to "do the right thing" in a world containing millions of pitchforks-and-torches human ideologues, for whom "homosexual" is a hot button.

As well as inter-species contacts and necrophilia...

My favorite, however, is animals' use of tools for sexual gratification. I've personally witnessed a horse teaching her colt how to use a fence gate for a rub; it was not a simple trick either.

The "animal cognition" people don't wanna hear about it.

would also be good for scientists that report homosexuality in animals, to report if those same animals have healthy heterosexual relationships in their lifetimes.