How Intelligent do you think Elephants really are?

[JG26Irish_2]

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So, you are saying that the elephant is smarter than the average Bear?

 

[Phil Giordano]

I believe thinking animals in human terms is wrong. It's one of the flags of the anti hunting party, also.
There aren't "stupid" species, as every single species developed a unique own way to adapt, survive, prevail, in a given kind of enviroinment. Obviously no other species than humans can write a book, compose an opera, built tools that are useful for building tools and so on. And that, by a specific human point of view, make our specie a milion times above all other ones. But, every other species is actually at the very top of theyr own evolution (for now), exactly like us.
We are not able to fly by ourselves, or reach the depths of the oceans, or do one of the many, infinite things that other species are able of. Maybe we could be considered "stupid" by a seagull or a whale.
I voted for 20%, but I believe, by human standards, they are far, far less intelligent. By evolution standards, 100%. Exactly like any other single species on Earth, fruit of milions of year of evolution.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I'm reminded of the following story and discerning levels of intelligence.


In 1986, a young man named Peter Davies from Chicago was on Holiday in Kenya after his college graduation. During a hike through the bush, he came upon a young bull elephant standing with his right front leg in the air. The elephant was in obvious distress , so Peter approached the elephant carefully for a better look. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephant's foot, and and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it....As carefully as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, after which, the relieved giant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant looked down upon Peter with what seemed to be a curious expression... It stared at him for several tense moments. Peter knelt before this young giant frozen, thinking only of being trampled to death....Eventually, the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned and walked away... Peter would never forget that encounter which would make a lasting impression on him for life....

Twenty years later, Peter was visiting the Chicago zoo with his young son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned toward them and began to approach Peter and his son. The large bull elephant looked down at Peter, lifted it's right front foot off the ground. The elephant did this repeatedly while trumpeting loudly and staring at the pair. Recalling his incredible encounter in 1986, Peter could not help but wonder if it was possible that this was the same young bull he had encountered so many years before.... Peter summoned up his courage, climbed the railing into the enclosure, and walked right up to the bull elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted loudly, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter's legs, and slammed him against the railing killing him instantly.....

Probably wasn't the same elephant....!

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[skydiver386]

I think they’re smart enough to know a well placed shot from a 375 is quite lethal, which seems to make them more intelligent than some humans.

Here we go again!

 

[PARA45]

I'd say Elephants are smarter than a lot of people walking around this planet. Especially the ones on the top left & right corners.

 

[Phil Giordano]

I'd say Elephants are smarter than a lot of people walking around this planet. Especially the ones on the top left & right corners.

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( an everage fly is smarter than those ones, probably, too... )

 

[Firebird]

it’s been pointed out that some humans are much smarter than others. And age, experience etc can and do make a difference to human intelligence. My dad has Alzheimer’s and his intelligence has been reduced to barely functional.
I believe elephants are very much the same-and are affected by similar influences.