Elephant have names for each other -Animal behaviour of elephant in depth

Sub: Environment

Sec: Species in news

Context:

Wild African elephants use name-like calls to address each other, a rare behaviour among nonhuman animals.
This remarkable behaviour was observed by scientists from Colorado State University (CSU), in collaboration with Save the Elephants and Elephant Voices.

Elephants use names just like humans:

Dolphins and parrots call one another by ‘name’ by imitating the signature call of the addressee.
The ability to produce new sounds, necessary for identifying individuals by name, is uncommon among animals.
Arbitrary communication, where a sound represents an idea without imitating it, greatly expands communication capability and is considered a next-level cognitive skill.

Complex social interactions:

Elephant evolution diverged from human evolution tens of millions of years ago, yet both species have developed complex social networks and communication systems.
Researchers propose that the development of arbitrary vocal labeling in both species may have been driven by similar social pressures.
Elephants communicate using a broad range of vocalizations that convey identity, age, sex, emotional state, and behavioral context.
Their calls, which span a wide frequency spectrum including infrasonic sounds, can coordinate group movements over long distances.

Elephants respond to their names:

The experts also observed that elephants are more likely to address each other by name over long distances or when adults are communicating with calves.

Strengthening conservation efforts:

The researchers believe that understanding elephant communication and cognition can strengthen conservation efforts.
Elephants are classified as endangered due to poaching and habitat loss, and effective communication could aid in their protection.
Further research is needed to isolate the names within the calls and explore whether elephants name other things they interact with, such as food, water, and places.
Despite the challenges in collecting data, the study provides new insights into elephant behavior and the importance of social reinforcement in their communication.

About Elephant Communication:

Elephants communicate using a rich array of vocalizations, gestures, and chemical signals. They produce a range of sounds, from low-frequency rumbles that can travel over long distances to higher-pitched trumpets and roars.

Social bonds

These low-frequency rumbles, often below the range of human hearing, play a crucial role in maintaining social bonds and coordinating movements, especially within their herds.

Body language

In addition to vocal sounds, elephants use body language to convey information and emotions.
They flap their ears, raise their trunks, and make specific postures to signal aggression, submission, or excitement.

Physical touch

Physical touch is also important; elephants often greet each other by entwining trunks, and they use trunk touches to reassure and comfort one another.

Chemical communication

Chemical communication is another vital aspect of elephant interaction.
Elephants have highly developed olfactory senses and use scent to convey information about reproductive status, individual identity, and emotional states.
They can detect pheromones in urine, dung, and secretions from glands located near their eyes and feet, which help them communicate over long distances.

About Elephants:

India is home to nearly 60% Asian elephants and the last count of the species in 2017 had put the number at 29,964.
While the number of elephants in India has increased in the past few years, the species is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List Of threatened species and Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act.
The South Indian States Of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu are home to nearly 44% of India’s elephant population.
The number of elephant reserves in India is 32 with the latest addition being the Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve in 2022.