A fresh study conducted by researchers from the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College has shed light on the problem-solving prowess of wild Asian elephants residing at Thailand’s Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary. Employing puzzle boxes filled with enticing jackfruit, the study unearthed varying degrees of innovative behavior among the elephants as they navigated these challenges to access their food. This investigation underscores the potential significance of cognitive flexibility in elephants and its implications for conservation efforts and mitigating human-elephant conflicts.
In a recent study, the researchers delved into the capacity of elephants to innovate and surmount obstacles in their quest for sustenance.
The ability to innovate individually often serves as a key indicator of intelligence across diverse species. Elephants, in particular, have garnered considerable attention from the scientific community due to their advanced problem-solving abilities. The findings of this recent study, published in the journal Animal Behaviour, emanate from a comprehensive six-month-long investigation. The research centered on assessing the capabilities of individual wild Asian elephants in procuring food by unraveling puzzles incorporated into storage containers.
Lead author of the study, Sarah Jacobson, a psychology doctoral candidate specializing in animal cognition at the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College, articulated the significance of their research, stating, “This is the first research study to show that individual wild elephants have different willingness and abilities to problem solve in order to obtain food. This is crucial knowledge, as the cognitive processes and innovative tendencies of animals may significantly influence their ability to thrive in environments undergoing rapid changes due to human presence.”
The study was conducted at the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, where motion-activated cameras were strategically positioned to observe the behavior of 77 wild Asian elephants. These elephants were presented with the choice of engaging with puzzle boxes, each featuring three distinct compartment configurations, all containing highly aromatic jackfruit. The key to accessing the jackfruit varied based on the compartment selected by the elephant, necessitating either pulling on a chain to swing the door open towards them, pushing the door so that it swung open into the box, or sliding the door open to the right. The elephants had to independently interact with these puzzle boxes to decipher the mechanisms for accessing the food.
Over time, 44 of the observed elephants approached the puzzle boxes, but significant variations were noted in their innovative approaches. The researchers observed that those elephants who interacted with the puzzle boxes more frequently and persistently were more successful in retrieving food from all three differently configured compartments. In total, 11 elephants solved one compartment type, eight mastered two compartment types, and five exhibited exceptional innovation by solving all three types.
Dr. Joshua Plotnik, the principal investigator of the study and a psychology professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College, as well as Sarah Jacobson’s dissertation advisor, emphasized the real-world implications of their research, stating, “Conflict between humans and elephants is on the rise due to the loss of natural habitat and encroachment of agricultural activities into the remaining wilderness. Investigating innovation and problem-solving in elephants can enrich our understanding of their cognitive flexibility in the wild and its potential impact on strategies for conservation management and mitigating human-elephant conflicts.”
Reference: “Innovating to solve a novel puzzle: wild Asian elephants vary in their ability to problem solve” by Sarah L. Jacobson, Juthapathra Dechanupong, Wantida Horpiencharoen, Marnoch Yindee, and Joshua M. Plotnik, 23 September 2023, Animal Behaviour. DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.08.019
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Elephant Innovation
What was the primary focus of the study on wild Asian elephants?
The primary focus of the study was to investigate the problem-solving abilities of wild Asian elephants, particularly their innovative approaches to access food.
Where was the research conducted?
The research took place at Thailand’s Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi.
What method did researchers use to assess the elephants’ problem-solving skills?
Researchers employed puzzle boxes filled with aromatic jackfruit, and motion-activated cameras were used to observe the elephants as they interacted with these boxes.
What were the key findings of the study?
The study revealed that individual wild Asian elephants displayed varying levels of innovation when solving puzzles to access food. Some elephants were more persistent and successful in solving multiple types of compartments within the puzzle boxes.
Why is understanding elephant innovation important?
Understanding how elephants think and innovate is crucial, as it can impact their ability to adapt and survive in environments undergoing rapid changes due to human presence, such as habitat loss and human-elephant conflicts.
Who conducted the study?
The research was conducted by a team of researchers from the CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College, with lead author Sarah Jacobson, a psychology doctoral candidate specializing in animal cognition.
What is the significance of this research?
This research contributes valuable insights into the cognitive flexibility of wild elephants and its potential implications for conservation management and mitigating conflicts between humans and elephants.
6 comments
Gud 2 kno ppl r studyin how animals thnk, it cn help conserve wildlife.
this is rly intrstng stuf, elphants r so smrt!
Impressive work by these researchers, opening new doors in elephant cognition study.
Wow, elefnts can do this? so cool!!
i <3 elefants, lerning abt their brains is amazin!
Dis resrch cud help save elefants frm prblems wit humans, vry imp.