The animal world is increasingly fascinating scientists, revealing surprising abilities that push the boundaries of what we thought we knew. Indeed, recent technological advances and the help of artificial intelligence are revealing the intelligence and sophisticated communication of many animal species.
In 2024, researchers have made incredible discoveries about various animals, highlighting their extraordinary intelligence. From great apes capable of self-medicating to elephants using individual names, nature is revealing astonishing behaviors.
A study conducted by biologists at Colorado State University in the United States has revealed that African elephants respond to individual names. These names translate into complex and distinct vocalizations, audible over long distances across the savannah. Thanks to machine learning, the researchers were able to detect the use of these names in recordings made in reserves in Kenya. When these recordings were played to specific elephants, they responded more dynamically, wagging their ears and raising their trunks, demonstrating a unique form of voice recognition.
But elephants aren’t the only ones communicating intelligently. Humpback whales singing melodies or dolphins whistling underwater sounds are just a few examples. Researchers studying sperm whales in the Caribbean have speculated that the whales’ series of clicks may be a type of “phonetic alphabet” that allows them to construct approximate equivalents of words and sentences.
Furthermore, studies in Italy have found that spotted dolphins “smile” to communicate with each other during play. With their ability to interact through facial expressions, these marine mammals demonstrate an advanced form of nonverbal communication.
Chimpanzees are no slouch when it comes to intelligence. Research from the University of Oxford has shed light on their sophisticated medicinal culture, where these primates seek out plants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to heal themselves.
As for dogs, humans’ faithful companions, they also seem capable of understanding human language well beyond simple commands. A study in Hungary even revealed that dogs can learn to associate words with specific objects, demonstrating a referential understanding of language previously unknown in these animals.
These recent discoveries open up fascinating perspectives on animal intelligence and communication, challenging our prejudices and enriching our understanding of the natural world around us.