Researchers make elephants use tablets to show they have math skills closest to humans

This is the first evidence of animals having cognitive characteristics which are similar to human counting.

Update: 2018-10-23 08:45 GMT
In 2013, a nine-month government-authorised inspection of 16 circuses across India as well as other inspections by expert teams from 2013 to 2016 revealed systemic, widespread abuse of elephants, horses, birds and other animals. (Photo: AFP)

Several species with their own peculiar characteristics exist in nature and sometimes they may even surprise us with extraordinary abilities. Elephants are spectacular creatures also known for their memory and it turns out there may be more to these gentle giants.

A new experiment has revealed that math skills of elephants are closer to those of human beings than any other animal. This was revealed when researchers successfully taught an Asian elephant to use a giant touch screen that showed math problems.

The 14-year-female was able to choose from pictures which contained the most items and pointed at them with her trunk. This is the first evidence of animals having cognitive characteristics which are similar to human counting.

Meanwhile this isn’t an ability that Asian elephants share with two species of African elephants.

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