Publication in a peer-reviewed journal or official press release from a research institution

Study Finds African Savanna Elephants Use Name-Like Calls

Jun 10, 2024, 07:05 PM

A new study reveals that African savanna elephants use name-like calls to address each other, a behavior previously thought to be unique to humans. Researchers from Colorado State University and Nature Ecology and Evolution employed artificial intelligence tools to analyze elephant calls, discovering that these animals may use and respond to individualized rumbles. This finding suggests that elephants possess the capacity for some degree of symbolic thought and abstract thought. The study highlights that these name-like identifiers are used over long distances and particularly when adults are addressing young elephants. The research, published Monday, adds to the growing evidence that the intelligence of elephants parallels that of humans in many ways. Photo: George Wittemyer.