Elephants use unique names to call each other: study

A recent study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution has discovered that elephants, like humans, use names to call and address each other.

The study analysed the vocalizations of two groups of elephants in Kenya using AI technology and found that elephants make unique sounds specific to their mates.

Researchers recorded elephant vocalisations from 1986 to 2022 in two national parks in Kenya, Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, and identified 469 distinct vocalisations using machine learning algorithms.

The study revealed that elephants use a variety of sounds, including some inaudible to humans, to communicate with each other. 

"The research not only shows that elephants use specific vocalisations for each individual, but that they recognise and react to a call addressed to them while ignoring those addressed to others,” head of the research Michael Pardo said.

“This indicates that elephants can determine whether a call was intended for them just by hearing the call, even when out of its original context,” the behavioural ecologist at Colorado State University said in a statement.

Adult elephants were found to use names more frequently than younger ones, suggesting that this skill takes years to develop.

When played a recording of their name being called by a friend or family member, elephants showed a positive and enthusiastic response, but did not react to other names.

Researchers noted that elephants and humans share similarities in their social behavior, living in families and having strong social bonds.

“The evidence provided here that elephants use non-imitative sounds to label others indicates they have the ability for abstract thought,” senior study author George Wittemyer said.