"The results, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), showed that elephants largely ignored the sounds of women or children from the Maasai. The animals also failed to react much to the sounds of the Kamba men.
But upon hearing the sounds of Maasai men, who do most of the hunting in that society, the elephants immediately displayed defensive behaviors. They quickly formed a huddle, protecting their calves and raising their trunks to sniff the air for any perceived threats."
It's interesting that they only reacted to the Maasai men, since Maasai women don't typically hunt big game. Does this really surprise anyone? The researchers point out that the Elephants can't really understand our languages, but, they can distinguish the perceived intent of the tribes based on prior knowledge about who is talking. I'm betting they DO understand some of the language too. I don't know for sure, since I'm not actually around wild Elephants, but, I've seen animals pick up language. Some dogs can do it. I've seen Raccoons do it a lot. And I'm not talking about repeating a word, like 'sit' to an animal until he responds correctly. I'm talking about animals who listen to you talking to another person, or even on the phone, and figure out key words or phrases in the conversation. Raccoons and dogs are sometimes very smart. Scary smart. Raccoons are particularly good at learning Human languages. I think Elephants could be even smarter because, obviously, they have bigger brains and they need this knowledge to survive. I just found it interesting.
It makes me wonder if this was a female Elephant. The article doesn't say. But, most females of higher brain animals, including Humans, are programed to respond to the cries of small offspring, even those of other species. I have a tendency to credit emotions to smart animals (because I think I'm right to do so, based on nothing but my own emotions and observations.) But, really, none of us on here could leave a baby Elephant trapped if we heard it crying, no matter what the danger. We'd simply have to figure out how to save it, even if we were pissed off at it's mother or herd. I have no reason to believe an Elephant couldn't feel the same way about a baby Human. Females of all species are more susceptible to this need to help the helpless because of our hormones and the way we are programed to think. We already know Elephants can think and reason...why couldn't they preform acts of pure kindness? Even when they're mad. We all get pissed off when we've been wronged or when our families are in danger. I really hope they can relocate this Elephant. Please don't kill it. Maybe he or she had a very good reason for what it did.
What do you think? Does anyone on here have experience with Elephants or an Elephant? I'd like to hear about it. Unless you're an Elephant hunter. No judgements here, but, I've heard enough of those stories first hand.
12 comments:
I love your posts. I always learn something new. This is so interesting!
I don't have any elephant experience but I did have to protect Billy last week. We had a couple of stray dogs come into our yard - they were probably about 50lbs. They were very friendly and looked well fed. So I figured they must be a neighbor's dog. So I let them hang out with us while I tried to find their home. Billy wanted me to fly him in the air like an airplane. The dogs didn't like this and came over and attacked Billy. They were trying to pull him out of my arms. They were biting me to get to him. So I just got down on the ground and put his little body under me. Fortunately, there were workers across the street working on a house and they came over and got the dogs off of us. I don't know what I would've done. I don't think I could've fought both of them off. It was so scary. Billy got a little bite on his stomach and I have a nasty bite on my thigh and scratches on my stomach and back. Animal control got the dogs and are watching them for rabies. Fingers crossed they don't have it. They really seemed like nice dogs.
I bought a tag to hunt an elephant. Got a 3 year old female while her mother and herd were near by. It was exhilarating.
Elle
Erin, OMG! You are more generous than me to say they seem like nice dogs. I might have killed them, or at least one. Dogs who bite chidren unprovoked are good for nothing. I am so sorry that happened to you. Dog attacks are so much worse when there is more than one dog. The egg each other on with excitement. Jesus, you could have been killed. You were very brave and did the right thing. I probably would have panicked and fought them. And lost. My psychic stuff is telling me there is no rabies there. I think they're dangerous dogs and I wouldn't want them anywhere near Billy ever again.
Elle, bullshit. Who hunts female Elephants? They have small tusks and make poor trophys. Elephant hunting is still illegal in many parts of Africa, but, in those regions where culling a herd is necessary to support the herd, tags are given for bulls who usually wonder alone. Females hang in groups. Hunting in a herd is not safe and would not be legally supported. Do you think I was born yesterday? No big game hunter would want a female, it serves no bragging purpose and can cost up to half a million dollars counting travel expenses, etc. People who spend that kind of money are not going to accept a female tag, even if it was possible.
People like you throw shit out of your ass onto the keyboard thinking I'll lose my mind. I lived on the periphial of that life for years. I tripped over a set of 8 foot tusks for a year before they finally went to a museum. I would never kill an Elephant, I couldn't do it and never wanted to. But, I understand both sides and I do not judge ethical hunters. Save your shit for someone mindless.
One of the articles mentions Frans de Waal. I've read some of his books about animal behavior. They are fascinating. There is a video he did showing elephants, chimps, and Capuchin 's doing behavioral experiments. They would work in collaboration, and had a strong sense of "fairness". That video is at http://www.ted.com/talks/frans_de_waal_do_animals_have_morals. I think you would like it.
We should pre-emptively exterminate every species that could conceivably evolve to challenge us for supremacy.
I think you should start with Elle, Melvin. Rock on.
Lauren
Thanks, Lisa, I'll watch that. I do think some animals have morals. I've seen evidence of it. Usually older animals.
Melvin, I'm not real sure we're the superior ones. Seems like apes might be. I mean, they have it all when they're free.
Elle is bum who wanted to make me scream and cry over dead Elephants. Everything dies..even trolls.
It's funny you posted an elephant story. I just watched this elephant video yesterday and it made me cry. We humans could stand to learn a thing or two from the animal kingdom in my opinion.
Here is the link:
http://www.reshareable.tv/two-elephants-reunited-after-over-20-years-what-happens-next-cant-be-described.html
I watched that. It was very hard for me to watch. Happy ending, but, it took so long for them. When they laid that chain on the floor, I teared up. I can't handle seeing Elephants in chains. It should never happen anywhere in the world. I'd rather look at a trophy on a wall, sad as that is, than to see them chained. Those poor sweet old girls. I will never figure out what makes some Humans so hard and greedy. That's when I know that Humans, as a whole, are not superior.
This is kinda cosmic weird that you posted about elephants. My mom was recently diagnosed with type 3 cancer and has to do radiation and chemo.
You know the old joke about how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Everyday, when she's done with whatever procedure is needed. I tell her "another bite down".
I'm going to cruising though Iowa when I go back home, maybe I'll stop for a reading.
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