Facts about elephants

Given below are 5 facts about elephants that have been studied and researched by field scientists over decades that the public find fascinating.

1) Scent sense

Elephants tend to hear or smell things first and then train their sight, instead of using vision as their primary sensory input. They keep track of their family members and non-family members using just their sense of smell.

2) Contact appeal

Anatomically, the olfactory region of the elephant’s brains is particularly active and extremely developed compared to its other senses. The mechanism works this way. When 2 elephants approach, they automatically emit something called the contact appeal. If they recognize the appeal, they respond in a friendly manner. If not, they adopt a defensive position. This fact about elephants requires more in depth research and studies.

3) Trunk

The trunk weighs around 130kg and is capable of lifting about 250kg. It is also extremely dexterous, sensitive and mobile, which makes it appear independent from the rest of the body. Anatomically, elephant trunk is a combination of the nose and upper lip. The nostrils are at the tip.

4) Memory

Elephants are known for their sharp memory power. The extraordinary recalling power of elephants both in the wild and in captivity has been fodder for many fascinating stories, both fiction and non-fiction. Ancient legend has it that elephants never forget. That may be bit of an exaggeration and a myth concocted by oldwives for many generations. It seems more likely that they forget. Although the theory is a myth, it doesn’t stray too far from the truth. There is surely some truth in it because science, studies and research have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that elephants do possess incredibly and exceptionally long memory power for certain things with the ability to keep information for many decades.

5) Mirror-recognition test

Scientists have long considered the ability to recognize one’s reflection in a mirror as an index of high cognitive ability. It is the greatest sign of the animal’s intelligence and one that only a few of the intelligent species such as humans, apes and highly social animals can claim. Elephants are also among the exclusive group of animals that recognize its reflection in a mirror. This ability shows self-awareness, which is an indication of the animal’s capacity for intellect and thinking. In this mirror examination, the experimenter applies a sticker or a mark on the body of the study subject. Then they place a mirror in front of the elephant and nudge it gently to look at its reflection. If after seeing its image the elephant looks for the sticker or the mark on its body, then it passes the mirror test.

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