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Elephants &
memory
Having a memory like an elephant
Among the many advanced cognitive abilities that Elephants form strong social ties with each other
elephants exhibit, their exceptional memory is and build a complex network of relationships
what they are most known for. Elephant memory throughout life which depends on genetic, social
is an area of study that many researchers have and circumstantial factors. Their strong memory
sought to understand and explain, and recent helps maintain these through time and space. It is
findings reveal that much has yet to be believed that they can keep track of the location
discovered. of about 30 other elephants at any given time
when travelling; an impressive figure considering
Elephants travel in herds typically guided by the that they don't always roam in a fixed order and
oldest 2 female - the matriarch -and her memory the groups are frequently changing.
is imperative to their survival. She can remember
the location of watering holes and feeding points At first glance, an elephant's memory seems to be
and is the one in charge of leading the herd to purely utilitarian in nature, serving survival
safety when disaster strikes. purposes and family identification needs, but the
story of two elephants, Shirley and Jenny, poses
Researchers have found that in periods of new issues. Having spent only a few months
drought, for instance, herds with younger together in a circus, the two elephants not 5 only
matriarchs are less likely to survive. The older recognised each other when they were reunited
matriarch is able to recollect information from over 20 years later, but also displayed gestures of
decades back. While humans might experience affection and friendship. Could this prove that
memory loss as they grow older, the exact elephants experience and 'remember' feelings of
opposite occurs with elephants. Another study fondness from the past? To this day, even
exhibited how herds with older female leaders researchers can only guess.
huddled together in the face of a predator,
whereas those with younger matriarchs didn't.
Older matriarchs seemed to remember
encountering dangerous strangers in the past and
knew when to take a defensive position to ward
