Elephants have passed a test of intelligence which scientists say has “profound” implications for our understanding of their mental capabilities. They were found to be capable of performing a task that showed they have a level of self-understanding that is rare in the animal world and defeats humans until they are about two years old.
Elephants have already shown they can recognise themselves in a mirror, something that is thought to be relatively rare among animals.
The new test, which was described as “deceptively simple”, involved picking up a stick and handing it to a researcher.
But sometimes the stick was tied to a mat on which the elephant had to stand to reach it. This meant they had to realise their own body was preventing them from passing on the stick and get off the mat in order to complete the task.
The scientists behind the study said animals capable of this kind of behaviour may also be better at empathising and be able to consider someone else’s perspective.
And that could have implications for the way conflicts between humans and elephants should be handled in places where the two species are competing for land and resources.
Dr Josh Plotnik, a visiting researcher at Cambridge University, said: “This is a deceptively simple test, but its implications are quite profound.”
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