African elephants have individual name-like calls for each other, similar to human names, study finds
African elephants have individual name-like calls for each other, similar to human names, study finds
Videos show how African elephants may be the first nonhuman species to use vocal name-like identifiers for each other, suggesting "the capacity for some degree of symbolic thought," researchers said.
![African elephants have individual name-like calls for each other, similar to human names, study finds](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/f2fc642b-9bc6-4146-bd73-ed809c403a65.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
Videos shared by researchers show how the elephants respond to call recordings addressed to them. In one, an elephant named Margaret appears to almost immediately perk up to a rumble recording addressed to her.
It's amazing to me that elephants use, among I would assume others, the name Margaret.
35 0 Replyamong I would assume others
I like how this comment aknowledges the possibility that all elephants call each-other Margaret.
6 0 Reply
Oh hey, remember how terrible we are to animals?
Imagine some jackass coming up and blasting your bestie with a .45-70. RIP, Bob.
19 0 ReplyWe don't have to imagine it, humans are often just as awful to other humans
22 0 ReplyRight, I forgot about the children huddling in a hospital in Gaza as bombs drop around them...
Humans were a mistake.
14 0 Reply
I hope if we ever bridge the species communication gap, an elephant ironically names their child Dumbo.
17 0 ReplyJesus, CBS, just say they have names.
12 0 ReplyArt, check Funerals, check (also implies religion) Names, check
At this point how are they different from us. Besides the looks
Edit: implies doesn't mean prove. Funerals is one thing, but graveyards are a little different
7 0 ReplyFunerals, check (also implies religion)
Or respect for each other. Don't need religion for funerals.
20 0 ReplyTo be fair, it's entirely possible elephants have created a deity of sorts. We'd have zero way of knowing.
2 0 Reply
Funerals don't imply religion. Religionists like to pretend that it's the only reason people care about each other. But that's silly, isn't it?
17 0 ReplyThe true single reason people care about each other is money, of course /s
2 0 Reply
As far as we know we could have a lot in common with elephants.
"Donatella, Margaret, quick, call the forest rangers. I just saw an African elephant standing by the lake!" – Karen, the gray
3 0 Reply