What an elephant's memory! Science confirms the existence of a treasure trove of knowledge that goes beyond myth

The phrase “remembrance.” elephant“It has been used for many years. It is a very colloquial way of describing a person's ability to remember specific details or distant events, even after a long period of time.

Until recently, many of these claims were merely hypothetical. However, there are recent scientific investigations that explain these theories. Studies revealed this Elephants have a series of cognitive abilities that not only highlight their ability to remember, but can also change the way we understand their behavior. And your social life.

Long-term memory with emotional intelligence?

You African elephants have demonstrated emotional intelligence that includes the ability to recognize and remember individuals over long periods of time. Led study Christian Albrechts University The city of Kiel in cooperation with Serengeti Park This was confirmed in Hodenhagen Elephants can remember their human caretakers after more than a decade of separation.

The discovery came from an experiment in which three former caregivers from Berlin provided olfactory stimuli, such as used T-shirts.

Although the elephants also saw pictures and heard recordings of their caregivers' voices, the animals responded most intensely to the T-shirts. This suggests that Your sense of smell plays a crucial role in your long-term memory.

Cognitive skills

In addition to their wonderful memory, elephants Offering cognitive abilities beyond what is expected in the animal kingdom. A recent study conducted by researchers from Colorado State University, Save the elephants and Elephant sounds It revealed that African elephants use specific sounds to communicate with each other, which is very similar to what “names” would be like between humans.

This four-year investigation and more than 14 months of fieldwork in Kenya identified 470 individual songs among 101 elephants. The recordings, which were analyzed using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, revealed this Pachyderms can distinguish between different individuals using specific vocal characteristics.

Relationships and “social memory”

This demonstrates the ability to name pairs Not only an advanced level of communication, but also an extraordinary social memory. These animals live in a matriarchal social structure, with older females playing a key role in transmitting knowledge, including migration routes and locating resources such as water and food.

Elephants' memory also extends to their social relationships: elephants are able to remember and recognize other members of their group, even after long periods of separation, which is crucial to their “fission-fusion” social structure.

Another study, conducted in the Gavota Reserve, in Zimbabwe, was led by cognitive biologist Vista Eleutre, from University of ViennaShe observed how elephants use a combination of visual, vocal, and tactile gestures to greet each other when they meet after being separated for hours, days, or even months. Elaborate greetings strengthen social bonds and are a clear sign of the importance of social relationships in these animals.

What has been investigated about memory

In addition to social interactions, Elephants' memory is crucial to their survival in changing natural environments. These animals Remember the locations of water wells, food sources, and migration routes For years, allowing them to move efficiently across vast areas in search of resources.

An elephant can remember which water source it visited more than a decade ago, giving it a crucial advantage in times of drought. This type of memory not only helps them adapt to changing environments, but also contributes to the social cohesion of the herd, as older females, known as mothers, pass this knowledge on to younger generations.

The importance of scientific research

Not only recent studies on memory and cognitive abilities of elephants enrich our knowledge about this species, but also provide clues about the evolution of cognition and language in animals. Elephants' ability to remember, communicate, and coordinate within their group shows interesting similarities to human cognitive abilities.

Studying their emotional intelligence and memory also has important conservation implications: with poaching and habitat loss threatening elephant populations, protecting these animals becomes even more important. Elephants not only have a memory that connects them across time and space; They have social and emotional intelligence that makes them some of the most fascinating animals on the planet.