African elephants are proving to be even more intelligent and socially complex than previously thought. A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals that these magnificent creatures use unique names to call and respond to one another, a trait rare among wild animals.
Researchers employed machine learning to analyze a vast library of elephant vocalizations recorded in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park. The findings suggest that elephants incorporate unique names into their low-frequency rumbles, enabling communication over the expansive savanna.
\"If you're looking after a large family, you've got to be able to say, 'Hey, Virginia, get over here!'\" explains Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm. While naming in the wild is exceptionally uncommon, elephants share this ability with humans, dolphins, and parrots, all of which can learn and use unique sounds throughout their lives.
The study's author, Cornell University biologist Mickey Pardo, emphasizes that although elephants use names, they don't do so in every interaction, which accounts for the model's 28 percent accuracy in predicting addressed elephants. When tested, elephants responded more energetically to recordings containing their names, reinforcing the significance of these unique calls.
\"Elephants are incredibly social, always talking and touching each other – this naming is probably one of the things that underpins their ability to communicate to individuals,\" says Colorado State University ecologist George Wittemyer. This groundbreaking research offers a deeper glimpse into the complex social structures and communication methods of one of the world's most intelligent animals.
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African elephants call each other by unique names, new study shows
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