Tool use isn’t just for humans. While chimps and dolphins are famous for their inventive ways of using sticks and sponges, elephants are proving they’re just as clever. A recent study published in Current Biology on November 8, 2024, revealed a surprising twist on elephant intelligence when researchers saw Mary, a quick-witted Asian elephant at the Berlin Zoo, transform an ordinary hose into her own showerhead. But wait – there’s a plot twist! Her fellow elephant, Anchali, seems to have a sneaky side and isn’t above messing with Mary’s personal spa day.
Mary: The Shower Queen
Imagine seeing an elephant holding a hose and thinking, “Oh, she’s just getting a drink.” But Mary isn’t just any elephant; she’s got serious hose-handling skills. According to Michael Brecht, a senior researcher at Humboldt University, “Elephants are amazing with hoses,” and Mary takes it to a whole new level. In the zoo’s outdoor space, she’s been spotted holding the hose behind the tip, making it sturdy enough to spray her body. And when she wants to hit those hard-to-reach spots? She grips it a little higher up and swings it over her back in a lasso-like motion. If the hose gets too heavy, she shrugs and simply uses her trunk as a showerhead instead. Talk about resourcefulness!
This whole “hose showering” moment came to light thanks to Lena Kaufmann, another researcher at Humboldt, who captured Mary’s clever moves on film. Kaufmann took the footage back to her team, sparking a closer investigation into elephant tool use.
Anchali’s Mischievous Moves: Sabotage or Just a Joke?
As if Mary’s DIY shower wasn’t impressive enough, here’s where the real fun begins. Enter Anchali, another Asian elephant and—possibly—a bit of a prankster. Researchers observed her watching Mary’s showering routine with a curious gleam in her eye. Then, she casually started pulling the hose away, bending and twisting it to cut off Mary’s water flow. It’s as if Anchali decided, “Nope, I want this hose now!” But this clever kink-and-clamp trick is just the start.The researchers thought it might have been a one-time thing—until Anchali took things up a notch. In her next attempt, she devised what the team calls a “trunkstand.” Anchali positioned her trunk on the hose, then gently lowered her hefty weight onto it, stopping the water dead in its tracks. If Mary wanted a shower, she’d have to get through Anchali’s playful roadblocks first!
Brecht notes that zoo elephants typically avoid stepping on hoses, as keepers discourage this behavior to avoid breaking them. But Anchali seemed to think, “If I can’t step on it, maybe I’ll just find another way to stop the flow.” Clever girl!
Do Elephants Have a Sense of Humor?
Brecht and his team were amused (and a bit mystified) by Anchali’s antics. They debated what her actions meant—was she playing a prank, or was this pure elephant mischief? Watching Anchali’s kink-and-clamp trick brought laughter to the researchers, making them wonder if elephants, like humans, have a funny bone.
The incident left them wondering if elephants in the wild also play these types of games. Do they prank one another by blocking water sources or hiding favorite snacks? Brecht even mused, “Does Anchali think this is funny, or is she just being mean?”
Why This Matters
Elephants are already known for their remarkable problem-solving skills, social intelligence, and unique use of their trunks. But this playful, almost prank-like behavior adds a new layer to our understanding of their personalities. Their grasping ability allows them to manipulate objects in creative ways, and this “hose warfare” offers a peek into how they might interact in the wild.
This study, funded by the European Research Council, opens up fresh perspectives on the way animals, especially elephants, use tools and interact with each other. The findings not only highlight elephants’ cleverness but also hint that these gentle giants might enjoy a little social drama now and then.
Final Thoughts
Mary and Anchali’s hose showdown was more than just a cute zoo moment; it’s a fascinating insight into how animals adapt, learn, and, just maybe, playfully compete. Whether Anchali’s hose tricks were pure mischief or strategic pranks, one thing’s for sure—these elephants have a lot more going on upstairs than we might think. And who knows? Maybe next time you see an elephant at the zoo, you’ll wonder if they’re cooking up a little practical joke of their own.