Elephants, the largest land animals, have demonstrated remarkable showering behaviors using water hoses, hinting at a possible understanding of tool use and even a touch of playful sabotage, according to a new study. Researchers at Humboldt University of Berlin and the Berlin Zoological Garden observed three female Asian elephants—Mary, Pang Pha, and Anchali—at the Berlin Zoo to analyze their interaction with water hoses.
Mary’s Mastery of the Hose
Mary, in particular, showcased sophisticated hose-showering techniques. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that Mary goes beyond traditional trunk-showering, spontaneously picking up hoses and using them in various purposeful ways. She adjusts her grip and stance to target specific body parts, effectively turning the hose into a personalized shower head.
Mary demonstrates an understanding of the hose’s flexibility. To reach her back, she grips the hose further from the tip, leveraging its ballistic properties to spray water onto hard-to-reach areas. Interestingly, Mary prefers showering her left side with the hose but favors her right side when using her trunk alone. This lateralized tool use suggests that tool manipulation might influence side preference in elephants, a phenomenon observed in other species.
The researchers speculate that elephants might possess an intuitive understanding of hoses due to their similarity to trunks. This intriguing possibility warrants further investigation to understand the cognitive processes behind this complex tool use.
Anchali’s Apparent Act of Sabotage
Adding another layer of complexity to the observations, Anchali, a younger elephant, appeared to disrupt Mary’s showering sessions. Anchali would pull the hose, creating kinks to restrict the water flow. Over time, Anchali’s “kink-and-clamp” technique became increasingly effective at blocking the water, raising questions about her intentions.
While the researchers acknowledge the possibility of sabotage, they note that further research is needed to confirm Anchali’s motivations. Control experiments with multiple hoses didn’t definitively show that Anchali specifically targeted Mary’s hose. It remains unclear whether Anchali’s actions were deliberate or simply playful interaction with the hose.
Expanding Our Understanding of Elephant Intelligence
This study offers valuable insights into the intelligence and dexterity of elephants. Their ability to not only use tools but also potentially engage in playful trickery underscores the complexity of their cognitive abilities. These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence highlighting the rich mental lives of these fascinating creatures. Further research promises to reveal even more about the remarkable capabilities of these gentle giants.
