It ran away from it's group to who knows where. I suppose I could have followed it but, no, I decided to reload and get the XP for killing it. I was hoping it would join me on the offensive! It was still to fun to have achieved though.

I don't remember very well, but if you use the skill outside of the combat you get more XP.
Anyway, as the animals are the one who take more ammos to kill and don't give amos in return, the skill is very useful.

At least of course you are trying to feed certain creature

Ahh, maybe I'll try to sneak up on one sometime and get it before it initiates combat. Any idea if it stays with you if you do it that way rather than run away?

The hostiles creatures go away, non-hostile are the one which gives bonus (at least that Fargo, play dirty and were a easter egg)

Personally, I wish Wasteland 2 allowed skills to increase by use like in the original. If it did, then perhaps using it would have gotten you a new skill point in Animal Whisper!