elephants are self-aware!! !

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061030/ap_ ... e_elephant

this is amazing but not surprising! Elephants are now added to the very short list of non-human animals who recognize themselves in the mirror, including only chimpanzees and sometimes dolphins! More studies need to be done to prove it, but there is no doubt in my mind what the results will show.

It is especially exciting because these three species evolved separately, which means that self-awareness is a trait that evolved independently in various types of mammals. Perhaps there are even more we have not tested yet. Science is finally beginning to catch up with the obvious knowledge that humans are not the only creatures who are self-aware, use tools, express emotions, or have a sense of humor.

does this put them above autistics on the social scale?

no, it isn't really a social skill. The elephants did not display any social behavior in front of the mirror, which means they knew their reflection was not another elephant. I think most of us recognize ourselves in the mirror, with the possible exception of prosopagnosiacs, but even they know the refection is themselves, they just can't tell the face.

oh, i just realised you were probably joking, haha

I watched a TV program about elephants yesterday, fascinating animals. Very intelligent, caring and loyal to their family members. They are also very funny to watch, on the program they showed a baby elephant playing and annoying the other older elephants.

ive read somewhere online that before that tsunami hit all the animals (especially elephants) the night before escaped out of there zoos and went to higher ground, pretty amazing

My psychology teacher said today that before an earthquake you will never see any rats about because they will all find a safe place to hide before it hits. He also mentioned some other animals that seem to be better at perceiving things than us. How true that is I dont know.

Elephants are also the only animal with emotions as complex as ours.

i know! they're absolutely amazing.

I saw a programme about them a few years ago. A group of elephants in the wild came across a pile of elephant bones and they started getting very distressed. They didn't show the same behaviour when they saw any other animal's bones. It was as if they knew they belonged to an elephant. It was quite moving. Excellent creatures.

yes, they will stay with the body of a recently deceased relative for days, even if it means sacrificing their own food and water. When they finally do leave, they often come back for the bones, knowing which individual the bones belonged to, and carrying them along for miles in a sort of funeral ritual.