You are most likely wondering what animals have sex for pleasure? Right? Frequently, we assume that we’re the only animal species that not only have reproductive sex but also for fun.
Today, we’ll discuss animal sex and find out if and what animals have sex for pleasure.
Without further adieu, let’s get started on this exciting topic.
Do Animals Have Sex For Fun?
YES, animals make love for fun.

While it’s true you can’t ask animals if they enjoy it, researchers have discovered animal sex fun in certain animals.
You can tell if animals sex for fun by observing their behavior and body language during the mating season.
Certain animals make love even when they least expect to reproduce–like during pregnancy. This clearly shows that animals not only have sex for reproduction but also for pleasure.
Are There Animals That Enjoy Same-Sex Encounters?
Just like the LGBTQ+ communities in humans, certain animals enjoy homosexuality. Here are our top five animals that enjoy same-sex encounters:
Bottlenose Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins are more comparable to humans and chimpanzees when it comes to emotional and social capabilities. In the bottlenose animal kingdom, both males and females exhibit same-sex encounter behaviors through oral sex–where one arouses the other with its muzzle.
Bonobos
Bonobos are considered the world’s most intelligent animals and are the closest human relative. They’re known for using love language to communicate and resolve issues with each other. Bonobos engage in an enormous amount of sex frequently that includes same-sex behaviors among both genders.
African Lions
Same-sex pairing is common among African lions. A group comprising of two to four lions often forms a coalition that works together to court lionesses. They protect each other and repulse other alliances.
These wild animals strengthen their bonds by having sex with their male counterparts in what researchers call “bromance.” Cases of lions mounting their colleagues and engaging in behaviors reserved for opposite-sex couples are common and documented repeatedly.
Giraffes
Over 90% of all sexual activities in giraffes involve same-sex encounters. Male giraffes are fond of engaging in behaviors previously thought to only be reserved for opposite-sex pairings, including hugs, full-body contact, neck massaging, and tongue kissing.
Rams
Scientifically, domestic rams are among the most extensive animals that enjoy same-sex encounters. Research shows that about 8% of rams may form male-male pair bonds. These animals do not mate but act like a couple throughout their entire lives.
Which Animals Masturbate?
Do animals masturbate? They indeed do. Whether male or female, most animals engage in self-pleasuring activities to satisfy their sexual desires. Here are our top five solo players:
Primates
Primates are the champions of masturbating in the animal kingdom. While the male primates use their hands to masturbate–just like humans, females have been observed using plant parts and sticks as makeshift dildos.
Elephants
Male elephants have long, S-shaped penises that can reach up to five inches in length. They’re known for rubbing their penises against any hard surface they find–including rocks, or striking their bellies repeatedly with their erected penises for pleasure.
Dolphins
Dolphins are known to be very sexually active animals. Both males and females engage in same-sex encounters–and so in masturbating too. Male dolphins rub their penises on anything while the females masturbate by massaging their genitals on the ocean’s sandy floor.
Rodents
Masturbating has been documented in rodents too. During the mating season, rodents engage in self-pleasure just like other animals. Squirrels, for example, rub their genitals against their surroundings to pleasure themselves.

Walrus
Though handless, Walrus too enjoy self-sex by rubbing their front flippers over the shaft of their penises or by sucking their penises.
What About Oral Sex and Group Gratification in Animals?
Oral sex in animals is more common than you think. The primary animals that practice oral sex are primates, sheep, goats, and spotted hyenas. Other oral sex animals include female cheetahs and lionesses known for licking and rubbing the males’ genitals.
Group gratification, on the other hand, happens in most animals. In the cat family, lions have sex in turns with a lioness in heat several times a day. The same happens with monkeys and livestock.
A List of Animals That Have Sex For Pleasure
Here is our list of seven animals that have sex for pleasure:
Bonobos
Bonobos are known as the most sexually active creatures in the animal kingdom. These mammals engage in sex not only for pleasure but also to relieve tension, bond, and resolve conflicts. Both males and females participate in same-sex and opposite-sex encounters.
Dolphins
Dolphins and bonobos share similarities with humans. Like Bonobos, Dolphins are sexually active and will use anything to pleasure themselves. The dolphin penis can hook, wrap, or swivel around anything when self-pleasuring. They’re known to engage actively in opposite and same-sex intercourse. Dolphins have also shown sexual lust in humans.
Sea Otters
Sexual pleasure in otters is evidenced by their numerous actions towards other species. Male otters are known for forcing sex on other species. In some bizarre instances, otters guard and have sex with the seals even after the death of their victims.
Killer Whales
Also known as Orcas, killer whales and dolphins have common similarities regarding the mating season. The world’s largest dolphins are polygamous species with multiple sex partners every mating season. These animals also participate in same-sex activities, and like their colleagues, killer whales enjoy masturbation.
Fur Seal
Fur seals have demonstrated extremely bizarre sexual behavior in the recent past. Researchers have captured fur seals trying to sexually assault penguins. In Marion Island, researchers observed multiple different occurrences of Antarctica fur seals coercing king penguins to sex. This study is published in the journal Polar Biology.
Cheetahs
Cheetahs, too, find pleasure in sex. These world’s fastest animals have been documented engaging in sexual behaviors that include oral sex where females rub and lick the male’s genitals.
Spotted Hyenas
Spotted hyenas, especially the female ones, love sex so much. The females are more dominant, aggressive, and muscular than the males. Spotted hyenas are among animals known to grace oral sex for excitement.
The Big O
Both animals and birds experience orgasms, too–just like humans. Research done on female macaques has shown muscle contractions, vocalizations, and facial expressions that indicate they exhibit orgasms.
Orgasm in birds is evidenced in the male weaver bird. These birds have a clit-like genitalia which, if stimulated it produces an orgasm, hence sexual excitement.
Whether masturbation, group gratification, oral sex, same-sex, or opposite-sex encounters, animals engage in sexual behaviors not only for reproduction but also for pleasure.


Project dedicated to support and help to improve Veterinary Medicine. Sharing information and raising discussions in the veterinary community.