A joint study by experts from Colorado State University (CSU), Save the Elephants, and ElephantVoices has discovered that African elephants have a complex system of vocal communication that is unique among animals. Using AI and machine-learning techniques, the researchers analyzed around 470 different elephant calls recorded over four years in Kenya and deduced that elephants use specific vocalizations, similar to names, to identify and call out to individual members of their herd.
This groundbreaking discovery indicates that elephants do not use imitation to communicate, but rather, assign specific sounds or “names” to particular individuals – mirroring the way humans use names to denote individuals. Unlike other highly intelligent animals like dolphins and parrots, the naming vocalization used by elephants doesn’t seem to be a mere imitation of the sounds made by the individual being referred to. This underlines the elephants’ capacity for abstract thought and sophisticated communication, aligning them more closely to humans.
This finding challenges the once widely held premise that language and communication are the exclusive property of humans. This view was famously advocated by the linguist Friederich Max Müller, who argued that language was a firm line between humans and animals. Contrary to Müller’s beliefs, the study provides strong evidence that advanced communication among elephants, some bird species, and dolphins share similarities, not coincidental, with human communication – underscoring Darwin’s theory that humans have more in common with distant species than once believed.
The implications of this study extend beyond an academic fascination with animal cognition. Greater insight into elephant communication could contribute significantly to conservation efforts, especially as the species comes under increasing threat from poaching and habitat loss. By learning how to communicate with elephants, humans could potentially help avoid conflicts that arise from elephants wandering into human-populated areas – a major source of human-elephant conflict.
Furthermore, it opens a wealth of possibilities for AI in decoding and interpreting advanced animal communication. Earlier projects have successfully employed AI to analyze pig grunts, determine rodent stress levels, and attempt to decipher sperm whale communication. However, larger and more ambitious projects, like the Earth Species Project, aim to create a comprehensive map of animal communication and devise AI interfaces to facilitate direct communication with animals.
While promising, these developments also raise ethical considerations due to the potential for disruption to animal’s natural functions and psychological harm. The scientific community has a responsibility to prevent unnecessary harm and ensure the ethical deployment of AI technology. Even though cracking the language barrier between humans and animals potentially risks perturbing the natural order, it is evident from this elephant study that there are tangible benefits to understanding animals better, provided it is done responsibly and ethically.
