A recent study conducted by the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, in collaboration with Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, has shed light on the remarkable cognitive abilities of elephants. The research, published on December 15, 2024, reveals that elephants can remember their human caregivers even after more than a decade of separation, suggesting their long-term memory is indeed exceptional.
Notably, the study found that elephants respond more intensely to olfactory stimuli, such as worn t-shirts of their former caretakers, compared to photographs or voice recordings. This highlights the crucial role of smell in their long-term memory, an aspect previously overlooked.
Moreover, elephants exhibit self-awareness, a trait indicating advanced intelligence, as they can recognize themselves in mirrors. They also possess a complex social and emotional structure, showing empathy by comforting distressed peers and mourning deceased companions.
Research from Colorado State University has further revealed that African elephants use specific sounds to communicate, akin to 'names' in humans, indicating a cognitive complexity previously underestimated.
Today's elephants are the descendants of an evolutionary lineage stretching back over 55 million years. They are herbivores, consuming up to 150 kilograms of vegetation daily, which plays a vital role in their ecosystems by promoting biodiversity.