Understanding the Mighty Elephant through Communication

It’s no secret that elephants are incredibly intelligent animals. They are known for their remarkable empathy, mourning the loss of individuals from their herds and working together to protect vulnerable members. Their social structures are complex, with matriarchs leading the herd and passing down knowledge through generations.

You may have also heard about their ability to retain information over extended periods of time, storing memories of events, locations, and even the identities of individuals, and recalling them decades later.

These majestic mammals have unique ways of communicating with one another, not only through sound but also through visual cues, touch, and vibrations carried along the earth’s surface. Their communication is intricate and multi-faceted, reflecting their deep social bonds and cooperative nature.

Elephants can send long-distance messages to each other through a process called seismic communication. These low-frequency rumbles travel across the ground, creating vibrations that are picked up by other elephants through their sensitive feet. These vibrations can reportedly travel over 2 kilometres and allow elephants to communicate over vast distances, even when out of sight of one another. This ability is particularly important in dense forests or open savannahs where herds may be spread out.

A recent study showed that elephants actually “call” each other by name when communicating. African elephants in Kenya have been observed calling out to their friends using rumbles and grumbles that are specific to each individual, much like humans use names. This is a rare phenomenon in the animal kingdom.

From curling their trunks to flapping their ears and lifting their tails, elephants use their bodies in numerous ways to communicate messages to members of their herds as well as to other species. These movements can be bold and obvious, or subtle and nuanced, used to display dominance, show aggression, signal arousal, and convey a range of other emotions and intentions. For example, a dominant elephant might spread its ears wide and raise its head high to appear larger, while a submissive one may tuck its tail and lower its head.

As highly social creatures, touch is an essential communication tool for elephants. A gentle caress with the trunk can be used to display affection, offer reassurance, or protect a calf, while the rubbing of ears against another individual is often playful in nature. In more aggressive interactions, trunks can be used to slap another individual, while the entire body can serve as a weapon to ram into others. Touch helps reinforce social bonds within the herd and is crucial for maintaining the hierarchy and cooperation among its members.

The language of elephants is as complex as their social structures. Understanding their communication methods not only deepens our appreciation for these magnificent animals but also highlights the importance of protecting them and their habitats. Every gesture, rumble, and touch tells a story—one that we are only beginning to fully comprehend.

See and marvel at these gentle giants at Chitwa Chitwa. Don’t miss a chance to be part of their story and get a glimpse into their world of intelligence, empathy and beauty. Let’s bring you closer to the wild