are elephants intelligent?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

The brains of elephant, dolphin, and the human being are all highly convoluted, which increases the surface area of the brain. These brains exemplify the well-known correlation between the degree of brain folding and the degree of intelligent, flexible behavior found in mammals.

But what is specifically elephantine about the elephant's brain? Three areas of the brain are noticeably enlarged (absolutely and relatively): the olfactory lobe, the cerebellum, and the temporal lobe of the cerebrum (see Figure 3). Enlargement of part of the brain usually means that there are more neurons in that part of the brain. These neurons are connected to other parts of the brain and to the rest of the body via nerve fibers. The enlargement of the olfactory lobe is clearly connected to the fine innervation of the sense of smell in the trunk. The cerebellum has been found to be related to muscle coordination in other, better researched mammals. Since the nerve pathways in the elephant are not that well known, Haug can only make the clearly reasonable suggestion that the cerebellum's high degree of development is related to the highly coordinated trunk movements. As the focus of so many of its activities, it is not surprising that the elephant's intelligence-imbued trunk is mirrored in the enlargement of parts of the brain connected to the trunk.

Answer 3

Yes, elephants are fairly intelligent. They can be trained to do a number of tasks, have good memories and are able to reason out the solution to a number of problems (usually the solution is to push on it until it breaks, but at least it's a solution).

However, they are not intelligent in the sense of sentience. They are probably up there with pigs, raccoons, monkeys and maybe even my cat, but are probably less intelligent than the great apes, dolphins and us.

Answer 4

Did you know?

• The brain of the elephant is larger than any other land mammal and it is located in the back of the skull well away from the forehead.

• Elephants are born with 35% of the mass of the adult brain

• The elephant is among the more intelligent animals

• The brain weight of the bull African elephant is 4.2-5.4 kg

• The brain weight of the cow African elephant is 3.6-4.3 kg

• Brain development in elephants is similar to that of humans.


While the brain of the elephant is the largest in size among the land mammals, it actually only occupies a small area at the back of the skull. However, in proportion to the size of the body, the elephant brain is smaller than the human brain. Despite this, the elephant is one of the only animals along with all apes (including ourselves), sperm whales and a few other creatures who has a large brain relative to body size.

"Brain size gives a rough measure of mental flexibility--some say intelligence--and large mammalian brains are associated with complex sociality" Katy Payne In Silent Thunder

Remarkably, the size of the bull African elephant can weigh 4.2-5.4 kg and the cow's as 3.6-4.3 kg. However, this difference in brain size between the sexes is not related to intelligence. Behavioural studies of elephants illustrate very intelligent actions from female elephants, that are equal or surpassing those of the male elephants. Remember, brain size without relation to body size is not generally that helpful. Given the fact that cows are generally smaller to bulls, the overall difference in mass in inconsequential. Also, the brain and consciousness of the cow is much different than that of a bull; they are reared and interact with their mothers in very different ways right from birth and while the females form a very close knit bond with each other which is constantly maintained, the males are more nomadic.

Interestingly, the growth and development of the elephant's brain is similar to that of mans. Both the elephant and man are born with small brain masses. The mass of the new-born elephant's brain is 35% of that of the adult, while Mans is 26%. Thus, there is considerable growth and development as the calf grows up. As the mass of the brain increases, so does the learning ability of young elephants.

Not surprisingly, evidence gathered from both anatomical details, as well as from behavioural studies, suggest that the elephant is a very intelligent animal. :)

Answer 5

Apparently they are. according to researchers and trainers, elephants have shown surprising intelligence. They have the ability to remember events and places probably longer than most people can remember them. They have even been shown to mourn their dead relatives. This can also be seen as a demonstration of intelligence, and the recognition of a loss.

Answer 6

that's what makes them so hard to train. They are so intelligent, that they try to out think their trainers. They're oppertunistic, they can become bored, neurotic, they have a highly complex social structure, and a massive capacity for learning behaviors. Many of these characteristics are evident with highly intelligent animals. The ones that 'think' more simply are much easier to train!

Answer 7

Haven't you heard the saying "Elephants never forget?"

Answer 8

All animals are intelligent to one degree or another. There are no real dividing lines it is just one long continuum (gray scale), with even some blurring between plants and animals.
____________
Andre' B.

Answer 9

Yes they are, they know about death, they have a culture (knowledge passed from one generation to another), they can solve problems with their own minds, they understand about dangers and do things to avoid them, rather than suffering from them.

Answer 10

Yes.Their brain are almost the size of human's brain.