Elephants address each other with "names"

African elephants use specific calls to address one another, akin to names. This discovery, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, reveals a new dimension of animal communication.

An international team of researchers, including members from Save the Elephants, Colorado State University, and ElephantVoices, studied the vocalizations of these pachyderms in Kenya. They recorded 469 distinct calls in the Samburu National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, identifying 101 unique callers and 117 unique recipients.


The researchers used a machine learning algorithm, Random Forest, to analyze these recordings. They discovered that elephants use specific "vocal tags," comparable to names, to address other members of their group. During playback tests, elephants responded enthusiastically when a call was directed at them, confirming their ability to recognize these vocal tags.

Dr. Mickey Pardo, the study's lead author, explains that "elephants use specific vocalizations for each individual and recognize a call directed at them, ignoring those meant for others." This demonstrates their ability to identify if a call is meant for them, even out of context.

These "names" are more commonly used by adults, particularly when communicating with elephants far away or with calves. The young ones do not frequently use these vocal tags, suggesting a gradual learning process of this skill.

Dr. Joyce Poole, Scientific Director of ElephantVoices, notes that elephants respond energetically to a family member's call. This behavior indicates advanced communication skills, directly linked to sophisticated cognitive functions. Unlike dolphins and parrots that mimic others' calls, elephants use personalized sounds to name each of their peers. This ability to create arbitrary sounds is essential to the richness of human language.

According to Professor George Wittemyer, this discovery about elephants' vocal tags could provide valuable insights into the evolution of human and animal language. By better understanding elephants' communication, we could develop more effective conservation strategies to protect these majestic animals.

Frank Pope, CEO of Save the Elephants, concludes: "Elephants, although separated from humans by millions of years of evolution, share many similarities in their social structure and intelligence. Artificial intelligence helps us uncover these secrets, and this is just the beginning of the revelations to come."

This research opens exciting perspectives for the study of animal cognition and the origins of language. By delving deeper into elephant vocalizations, scientists hope to discover other aspects of their complex communication and develop new methods for their conservation.