Berlin Zoo Elephants Display Tool Use and Sabotage

Researchers at Berlin Zoo have documented fascinating tool-use behaviors among Asian elephants, particularly in how they manage water hoses. An elephant named Mary has shown remarkable skill by using a hose to methodically shower herself, demonstrating the ability to coordinate the hose with her limbs and employ a lasso technique to reach her back. Meanwhile, her companion Anchali has been observed engaging in playful sabotage by kinking and compressing the hose to interrupt Mary's shower. This behavior suggests a level of intentionality and playfulness akin to pranks, raising questions about similar behaviors in wild elephants. The study highlights elephants' advanced tool-use capabilities, which are comparable to those of other intelligent species like chimpanzees and dolphins. Published in Current Biology, the findings contribute to our understanding of animal cognition and tool use.