thenerdguy
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Elephant Painting
- Thread starter thenerdguy
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nurizeko
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Thats amazing how an elephant can draw another elephant!, art is considered one of the hallmarks of sentient levels of intelligence, abstract thoughts....
I am truely amazed. :O
Oh and the moron comments on youtube lamenting the poor plight of these animals doing something most humans enjoy doing, something that is a sign of intelligence, are just...well, moronic.
I am truely amazed. :O
Oh and the moron comments on youtube lamenting the poor plight of these animals doing something most humans enjoy doing, something that is a sign of intelligence, are just...well, moronic.
Well, it is impressive, but you have to understand that the majority of it (probably at least 95% of it) is simple repetition and practice that the trainer forced it to learn. Chances are that the Elephant can't paint much besides that, or whatever the trainer bugged the hell out of it to learn.
Not saying it isn't impressive, it is, but besides maybe getting a treat, theres no way of telling if the Elephant really enjoys doing a repetative process of taught lines so tourists around it can go "ooo, ahhhh!", or if it is just doing it so the trainer will leave it the hell alone.
Imagine if your father forced you to learn how to paint an outline of a person when you were 5, and he taught you only that about painting. He forced you to paint this outline of a person, over and over, and over again. He had people and relatives come over to watch you paint this person over, and over, and over again so they can go "Oooo, Ahhh!" and everytime you did it, he gave you a few oreos, everytime you didn't do it, he bugged the hell out of you. :|
Not saying it isn't impressive, it is, but besides maybe getting a treat, theres no way of telling if the Elephant really enjoys doing a repetative process of taught lines so tourists around it can go "ooo, ahhhh!", or if it is just doing it so the trainer will leave it the hell alone.
Imagine if your father forced you to learn how to paint an outline of a person when you were 5, and he taught you only that about painting. He forced you to paint this outline of a person, over and over, and over again. He had people and relatives come over to watch you paint this person over, and over, and over again so they can go "Oooo, Ahhh!" and everytime you did it, he gave you a few oreos, everytime you didn't do it, he bugged the hell out of you. :|
VirusType2
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I saw this special on TV about elephants, and it credited them with being very intelligent and while Humans thought that only Humans understood death, they have studied elephants and realized that they understand death as well. In fact, when elephants trek across the plains they will re-visit the bones of their family and ancestors and they will touch and caress the bones as if to honor and spend a moment mourning them before continuing on their way.
Also, they found that elephants will sometimes get revenge. In one example, a villager had killed an elephant and the elephants began killing the villagers livestock, specifically cows.
I'm sure you have heard the saying, "an elephant never forgets"
Anyway, just thought I would add that. I would guess that only humans, apes, chimps, orangutans, and monkeys are more intelligent. And perhaps dolphins are said to be quite intelligent.
Operational
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Elephants have the evolutionary potential for sentience, fulfilling the 3 probable requirements
- Large Brain/Body ratio
- Formation of Social Groups
- Ability to finely manipulate their environment
- Large Brain/Body ratio
- Formation of Social Groups
- Ability to finely manipulate their environment
Dan
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We need to exterminate them now before they organize.
Dynasty
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Well elephants are unthinkably smart.
Apparently this is a true story, but ive yet to believe it...really...
A group of Americans in Uganda went out on a walking Safari, with a park ranger (who was armed accordingly) to go look for elephants that were known to be in the area. Now this park ranger had been working with these elephants between 1984 and 1995, but had been away from them for 12 years (making this story happen in 2007). Never seen them since, never been near them, never even been back in the country, let alone the park.
Anyway, they come across the herd this warden had been working with like 12 years ago, and the bull charges them. Now what do you do when an elephant charges? You stand your ground right? So, naturally, the yanks leg it but the ranger holds his ground. The bull runs right at him, grabs him with his trunk and lifts him up, turns him upside down and spins him, then gently lowers him to the ground.
The ranger is adamant that the bull recognised him and was saying 'hello', as the bull then turned and calmly walked back to the herd.
So, if an elephant is capable of recognising someone after 12 years, AND saying 'hello', im sure it can be taught how to draw another elephant with a brush?
Apparently this is a true story, but ive yet to believe it...really...
A group of Americans in Uganda went out on a walking Safari, with a park ranger (who was armed accordingly) to go look for elephants that were known to be in the area. Now this park ranger had been working with these elephants between 1984 and 1995, but had been away from them for 12 years (making this story happen in 2007). Never seen them since, never been near them, never even been back in the country, let alone the park.
Anyway, they come across the herd this warden had been working with like 12 years ago, and the bull charges them. Now what do you do when an elephant charges? You stand your ground right? So, naturally, the yanks leg it but the ranger holds his ground. The bull runs right at him, grabs him with his trunk and lifts him up, turns him upside down and spins him, then gently lowers him to the ground.
The ranger is adamant that the bull recognised him and was saying 'hello', as the bull then turned and calmly walked back to the herd.
So, if an elephant is capable of recognising someone after 12 years, AND saying 'hello', im sure it can be taught how to draw another elephant with a brush?
