Clever! Clever! - Social Talents and Intelligence of Animals

When some years ago Silvester, the grey parrot of a friend, was my guest, the cheeky animal did surprise me enormously after some days! Whereas in the very beginning I had dismissed his gossip as being just a “noise”, I soon began paying more attention after I had noticed that he actually seemed to refer directly to specific situations: He greeted me with an enthusiastic “good morning” when I appeared in my dressing gown, and said his “good night”, followed by a gentle kissing noise, exclusively when he saw me busy with my end-of-they-day routines. Furthermore he spoiled me with an appreciative whistle only when he has happy with life - and me. All that could be nothing more than a coincidence! Really?

No! Not at all! As time went by I discovered that my flamboyant visitor actually did possess the ability of combining certain situations with appropriate phrases or comments - he never got it wrong. He never paid me any compliments when he was annoyed with me; instead he clearly voiced his discontentment by calling me names that were a bit on the rude side and very much to the point. There was no room at all for misunderstandings about his feelings and opinions. After I had adjusted to such an unusual visitor, Silvester became a very interesting contemporary and an amazing interlocutor.

For a long time already heated arguments have taken place amongst scientists regarding parrots and their use of language. Do they deliberately express themselves or are they just babbling? Well, should Silvester really not know what he is talking about, the principle of probability must be about to overload if not actually exploding!

I have no doubt that the parrot is able to express himself quite clearly and by that is even one step ahead of me in that he masters my language but I do not speak his. In my opinion those researchers are correct who state that it is the parrot species having an ability to count - and not the primates. Smart birds!

But other animals are just as intelligent even if they are not in a position to communicate verbally with humans. Researchers have become increasingly interested in the ability of animals to react logically to certain situations and conditions. The stars in this context are primates and sea mammals about which also the largest amount of information is available.

It will always remain a mystery what the gorilla female Binti Jua in an American zoo was thinking when she saved the life of an infant: The young boy had fallen into the enclosure of the animals from a great height and was unconsciously laying on the ground. Binti Jua picked the toddler up, kept her buddies at safe distance, held the child gently and handed him carefully over to members of the personnel. What an incredible and admirable behaviour!

The amazing richness of the social life of animals makes the question ever more urgent of which reactions can still be considered as “typically human”. How for example can it be explained that primates embrace each other and are able to express their affection quite clearly but, on the other hand, craftily pull the wool over each others’ eyes, cheat by making poker faces, lie, hide compromising evidence or appeal to the compassion of others by pretending to be weak or suffering? They also have shown the ability to manufacture and skilfully use simple tools, join forces in danger and hunt in a highly coordinated manner.

Furthermore it has been discovered that chimpanzees greet one another, even the very young. Depending on the respective groups this is done either by the well-known handshake, a rubbing of wrists or by joyful stretched up arms. Regarding other primates it was observed that sound expressions of youngsters made group members identify and alert their mothers.

Primates not living in the wild recognize themselves in mirrors and are even able to join up photos of their friends with those of their respective children - like a puzzle.

But other animals also impress by marvellous communication talents: Elephants for example produce sounds, non-audible for our ears, by which they can exchange information and make arrangements over great distances. Also hyenas, which live in groups of about hundred animals, developed complex social features, form coalitions, and in a matriarchal-oriented social structure mothers help their children in achieving the best possible positions in hierarchy. Furthermore these animals, which to us do not seem all that attractive, have proven their talents as eager observers: They stalk humans in order to discover their best chances for stealing food. But they also nick just for pleasure: in their dens binoculars have been found and even a pressure cooker.

Discoveries about sea mammals bring about ever more questions for these animals show elaborate social skills in their respective pods or groups: One gets on and falls out, arranges re-conciliations after arguments, forms coalitions and cherishes a „cultural“ togetherness in which active teaching and learning is taking place, i.e. talking and listening.

More than 1700 whistle sounds of dolphins have been analysed showing that the animals answer one another in an identical fashion, often within split seconds. This is an ability considered important in the context of developing languages and theories exist that even the human languages were triggered off in such a way - or at least along these lines.

Furthermore it is known that very young dolphins use an individual whistle tone, which can be considered as their name and by which they will be identified for the rest of their lives. Their method of calling and exchanging information is very efficient indeed, even in cloudy water and bridging large distances.

Have we underestimated animals? The question of whether they are after all capable of logical behaviour creates growing curiosity in scientific circles. Why not ask pet owners and have them shed more light upon these fascinating riddles? After all, it is a well-known fact that the masters of Boomer and Kitty do have many a miraculous tale to tell about the talents of their non-human family members!

It seems like a good idea to continue studying animals living in the wild, in captivity or in human proximity in order to find out much more about their specific reactions and get to know them better. After all, these discoveries will help us to grant them the respect that they are indeed entitled to.