When it comes to the smartest species in the animal kingdom, elephants definitely top the list. So how smart is the elephant? Well, first off, they have bigger brains than any other land mammal! Elephants are capable of expressing a wide range of complex emotions, and they’ve even been known to use tools in surprisingly sophisticated ways.
But these complex behavior and survival mechanisms are only the beginning of elephant intelligence! Let’s take a closer look at just how smart elephants really are. We’ll learn about the many ways they display intelligence in the wild and in captivity.
How do we measure the intelligence of elephants?
Animal intelligence is a fascinating but very delicate topic. Historically, this has been difficult to measure. After all, we can’t just test animals for IQ or ask them to solve math equations. Fortunately, scientists have devised a range of strategies when it comes to assessing and comparing the intelligence of certain animals. As you can imagine, Elephant has mastered all of these!
The main factors researchers analyzed when measuring animals’ mental abilities included self-awareness, emotional range, tool use, play behavior, short- and long-term memory, social structure, and social behavior, among others.
Of course, the short answer to “Are elephants smart?” is a resounding “Yes!” However, measuring elephant intelligence definitively and precisely is somewhat difficult. Let’s look at some of the factors used to measure intelligence in animals and how elephants measure it.
The Elephant and the Mirror Test
Perhaps the best-known measure of animal intelligence is the “mirror test.” It essentially measures an animal’s self-awareness by determining whether the animal is able to recognize itself in a mirror.
Most animal species are not self-aware. When a species that lacks self-awareness sees itself in a mirror, like your cat or a lizard, they see their reflection as another animal rather than an image of themselves. When exposed to a mirror, they may try to wrestle with their own reflection or act fearful or confused. However, if an animal could show that they understood that their reflection was actually a representation of themselves, they would “pass” the mirror test.
Even human children don’t pass the mirror test until about 1.5 to 2 years old! Only a few species have shown success when tested; humans and great apes are the main species that consistently pass it every time.
However, other animals such as dolphins, crows – and yes, elephants – also showed promise when put to the mirror test! While we still need more definitive research on the topic, research suggests that Asian elephants can recognize themselves in mirrors.
Emotional Intelligence and Social Structure of Elephants
So, what other methods do we use to determine elephant intelligence?
In addition to measuring self-awareness with a mirror test, the scientists also closely observed the elephants’ social behavior. They look at social structures and hierarchies within elephant herds to determine whether the animals are capable of expressing complex emotions, communicating and cooperating with each other.
When it comes to social intelligence, elephants are pretty savvy too! They have proven to be very caring and protective of each other in the family group. They may even grieve when a close partner or family member dies. Their emotional range is impressive, and elephants often work together to obtain and share resources such as food and water, or to protect each other from predators.
In addition, dahlias are professional communicators. They use all of their senses – hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch – when interacting and working with each other.
Elephants have a variety of signals, calls, gestures, and calls that are used for purposes such as alerting the herd to predators, resolving conflicts, attracting and courting mates, or even just casually chatting with other herd members.
Do elephants use tools?
Another key way ethologists, or ethologists, measure elephant intelligence is by examining their use of tools. A wide variety of animals such as birds, mammals, and even insects are able to use tools. However, only a few species use them regularly and consistently in very intricate ways.
It turns out that elephants are very good at using tools like rocks and branches for very complex purposes! Researchers have observed elephants using twigs as back scratchers, swatting flies, and even as weapons to attack people or other animals that get too close. They also carry sticks with them for a long time to use again later.
It is worth noting that the strong and flexible trunk of an elephant is huge Assist them in using the tool. They usually use the trunk to pick up stones and branches and use them to plug up previously dug puddles to ensure the water does not dry up. Alternatively, they’ll use their trunks and wield large branches to knock fruit and leaves from trees so they and members of their herd can eat them.
When it comes to elephants and tools to use, the possibilities are endless! Tool use (such as the example mentioned above) is a key determinant of animal intelligence, as it requires highly intelligent animals to figure out and remember how to use them.
Do elephants really “never forget”?
We’ve all heard the phrase “an elephant never forgets” at some point. It turns out that there’s more to this old saying than you might think! After all, an elephant’s brain weighs nearly 5 kilograms and has three times as many neurons as the average human brain.
Elephants are able to remember the location of food and water for an astonishingly long time! Cattle in the field often return to watering holes weeks after they are initially found.
But they don’t just use their impressive memories to find resources. Elephants remember friends and even enemies for years. They can remember the approximate location of up to 30 companions at a time, and will seek out them from time to time to catch up and communicate with them.
So, if someone asks you how smart an elephant is, you can confidently tell them that elephants really, real Smart – not only in basic cognition, but also in their memory and social/emotional intelligence!
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
