Intelligence and cognition

Elephants exhibit mirror self-recognition, an indication of self-awareness and cognition that has also been demonstrated in some apes and dolphins.[133] One study of a captive female Asian elephant suggested the animal was capable of learning and distinguishing between several visual and some acoustic discrimination pairs.

This individual was even able to score a high accuracy rating when re-tested with the same visual pairs a year later.[134] Elephants are among the species known to use tools. An Asian elephant has been observed modifying branches and using them as flyswatters.[135] Tool modification by these animals is not as advanced as that of chimpanzees.

Elephants are popularly thought of as having an excellent memory. This could have a factual basis; they possibly have cognitive maps to allow them to remember large-scale spaces over long periods of time. Individuals appear to be able to keep track of the current location of their family members.[41]

Scientists debate the extent to which elephants feel emotion. They appear to show interest in the bones of their own kind, regardless of whether they are related.[136] As with chimps and dolphins, a dying or dead elephant may elicit attention and aid from others, including those from other groups.

This has been interpreted as expressing “concern”;[137] however, others would dispute such an interpretation as being anthropomorphic;[138][139] the Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour (1987) advised that “one is well advised to study the behaviour rather than attempting to get at any underlying emotion”.[140]