Elephant (2024)

FAQs

Is An elephant aggressive? ›

Elephants are usually peaceful animals. Females may, however, be aggressive when young calves are present and bulls can be exceptionally aggressive during musth. All elephants may become aggressive when sick, injured or harassed. Elephants react to threats or challenges in three different ways.

Elephants are exceptionally smart creatures. They have the largest brain of any land animal, and three times as many neurons as humans. While many of these neurons exist to control the elephant's large and dexterous body, these creatures have demonstrated their impressive mental capabilities time and time again.

Here are some of the key reasons why elephants are so remarkable: Intelligence: Elephants are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. They have large brains and exhibit a wide range of complex behaviours, including problem-solving, tool use, self-awareness, and emotional capabilities.

They don't need to be constantly alert, but they do need to eat and search for food frequently. Wild African elephants spend most of their days either eating or looking for food and drinking or taking mud and sand baths and this leaves them with very little time for naps.

Research Shows Elephants Afraid of Bees

Dr Lucy King from the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford started publishing research about the fact that elephants are afraid of bees in 2007. She and her team of researchers found that the sound of angry bees caused elephants to move away within about 10 seconds.

Elephants do not have the greatest eyesight in the animal kingdom, but they never forget a face. Carol Buckley at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn., for instance, reports that in 1999 resident elephant Jenny became anxious and could hardly be contained when introduced to newcomer Shirley, an Asian elephant.

Despite their size, they are actually pretty nimble and can walk up to 195 km per day, although they usually only average is only 25 km on a daily basis. They can also run faster than you would expect, easily reaching speeds of 40 mph, which is a lot faster than us humans can run.

Most scientists believe the chimpanzee is the “smartest animal in the world,” behind humans.

Elephants are believed to rank equal with dolphins in terms of problem-solving abilities, and many scientists tend to rank elephant intelligence at the same level as cetaceans; a 2011 article published by ABC Science suggests that, "elephants [are as] smart as chimps, [and] dolphins".

Can elephants understand humans? ›

“They have a natural capacity to interact with humans even though - unlike horses, dogs and camels - they have never been bred or domesticated for that role. Our findings suggest that elephants seem to understand us humans in a way most other animals don't.”

Elephants have been known to give and receive hugs, just like we do! Elephant behaviour is no different. Believe it or not, despite being the largest animal in the animal kingdom, elephants still get scared or distressed.

Despite having the two inch thick skin of a pachyderm, elephants are vulnerable in the sensitive, soft fleshy areas of their eyes, mouth, and trunk. Because of this, they will become bothered and startled not just by the sight but the very sound of a swarming beehive.

Elephant are highly protective of their young and their herd. If they feel that their calves or group members are in danger, they may become defensive and aggressive towards perceived threats, including humans. This can happen if humans come too close to their calves, surprise them, or enter their territory.