New research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution on Monday reveals that African elephants have the remarkable ability to respond to individual names, making them one of the few wild animal species known to do so. These unique names are communicated through complex low rumbles that can travel long distances across the savannah.
To uncover this fascinating phenomenon, biologists from Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources utilized machine learning techniques to detect these distinct names in recordings taken at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park. To validate their findings, the researchers played back the recorded sounds to individual elephants, who exhibited more energetic responses, such as flapping their ears and lifting their trunks, when they heard their own name.
Professor George Wittemeyer, a co-author of the study, explained that capturing the intricate sounds required the researchers to approach the elephants closely. He noted that elephants communicate both infrasonically and sonically, with approximately half of their call being below the range of human hearing. Therefore, a special microphone was necessary to record these calls.
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During their observations, the researchers followed the elephants in jeeps to identify which individuals called out and who responded. They noticed that in certain situations, such as when a mother called to her calf or a matriarch called to a straggler who later rejoined the family group, the entire group would react and gather around the caller. However, there were instances when a similar call from the same individual received no response except from a single elephant. This suggests that elephants possess a means of communicating specifically with whom they want to interact.
The ability of wild animals to address each other by unique names is exceptionally rare. Other animals, such as dolphins and parrots, also exhibit this naming behavior and can learn new sounds throughout their lives. Elephants, too, possess this talent, further highlighting their remarkable cognitive abilities.
The ability of animals like dolphins, parrots, and elephants to learn new sounds throughout their lives is a fascinating subject that still holds much potential for further research.
According to Michael Pardo, the lead author of the report and a postdoctoral researcher at the university, there is still much to uncover about the complexity of elephant communication.
Despite the knowledge that elephants are highly social and vocal animals, as noted by Wittemeyer, the structure of their calls remains a mystery. Deciphering their communication could provide valuable insights into their cognitive processes.
