Do Elephants Really Never Forget?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do really never forget? In reality, “an never forgets” is a generalization that's not true all the time because

all elephants forget things from time to time

. However, scientists have proven that elephants do have incredible memories.

Do elephants forget you?

More aptly put,

elephants never forget something they may need to survive or have their needs met

. Like humans, they may forget small things that aren't needed for daily life. Also like humans, when it comes to things that made them feel unsafe, elephants never forget.

How do we know that elephants don't forget?

Do elephants never forget a face?

Is it true that elephants remember everything?

Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth and have quite the memory to go along with their massive size. While the old saying may be exaggerated,

it's more true than not

. An elephant's memory is key to its survival and, sometimes, its herd's. Herds have a matriarchal structure with one older female in charge.

What animal never dies?

To date, there's only one species that has been called ‘biologically immortal': the

jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii

. These small, transparent hang out in oceans around the world and can turn back time by reverting to an earlier stage of their life cycle.

Do elephants mourn their dead?


Asian elephants, like their African cousins, seem to mourn their dead

. Asian elephants, like their African cousins, seem to mourn their dead, sometimes even carrying their lost infants in their trunks for days or weeks, new research finds.

Do elephants have funerals?

In One Amazing Elephant, Queenie Grace is an elephant grieving the loss of her trainer, Bill.

Elephants do grieve

, and they are one of the few animals who are similar to humans in mourning patterns. Believe it or not, elephants cry. They bury their dead and pay tribute to the bodies and to the bones.

Why are elephants afraid of mice?

Theories abound that elephants are afraid of mice

because the tiny creatures nibble on their feet or can climb up into their trunks

. However, there's no evidence to back up either of those claims.

Do elephants have feelings?

Elephants, the largest land animals on the planet, are among the most exuberantly expressive of creatures. Joy, anger, grief, compassion, love; the finest emotions reside within these hulking masses. Through years of research, scientists have found that

elephants are capable of complex thought and deep feeling.

Do elephants cry?

While this may look superficially like emotional “crying”, it occurs simply because elephants have lost the normal mammalian structures that drain excess moisture away from their eyes; without a true lacrimal structure,

elephants are physically unable to produce emotional tears

.

Do elephants forgive?

An elephant doesn't forget, but, in time,

perhaps they can forgive

. Elephant expert Joyce Poole meets the main matriarch, Provocadora, of Gorongosa's elephant family.

Can elephants remember humans?

An elephant never forgets

It is not easy to measure with precision the memory span of an elephant; many working elephants can learn and remember a large number of commands.

They also appear to recognise many humans

, as well as individuals of their own species – even when separated from them for decades.

What animal has the best memory in the world?

Marine mammals can remember their friends after 20 years apart, study says. Sorry, elephants: Dolphins have taken the top spot for best memory, at least for now. New experiments show that

bottlenose dolphins

can remember whistles of other dolphins they'd lived with after 20 years of separation.

Are elephants intelligent?


Elephants are exceptionally smart creatures

. They have the largest brain of any land animal, and three times as many neurons as humans. While many of these neurons exist to control the elephant's large and dexterous body, these creatures have demonstrated their impressive mental capabilities time and time again.

Do elephants hold grudges?

But regarding the elephants, the British author was onto something. Nearly a century later, extensive observations have confirmed that

elephants indeed remember injuries and hold grudges against their abusers

.

What animal never falls sick?

So Why Don't They Get Sick? A

horseshoe bat

. Bats are known to carry many different strains of viruses but do not get sick from them.

Which animal do not sleep at all?


Bullfrogs

… No rest for the Bullfrog. The bullfrog was chosen as an animal that doesn't sleep because when tested for responsiveness by being shocked, it had the same reaction whether awake or resting.

What animal has no brain?

Do elephants understand death?

Death ritual


Elephants show a keen interest in the bones of their own kind

(even unrelated elephants that have died long ago). They are often seen gently investigating the bones with their trunks and feet while remaining very quiet.

What does a zoo do with a dead elephant?

Once the decision is made, ideally,

the animal is shifted into an area of the zoo where it can be euthanized and easily removed from the compound

. If the elephant can't be shifted, the procedure would take place wherever the animal is.

Do animals know they are dying?

In the early 1970s, anthropologist Ernest Becker wrote in his Pulitzer Prize–winning book Denial of Death that

nonhuman animals know nothing about dying

: “The knowledge of death is reflective and conceptual, and animals are spared it.”

Do elephants mate for life?

Females may mate with more than one bull in each estrus cycle, which lasts up to 18 weeks. While

elephants do not mate for life

, a female may repeatedly choose to mate with the same bull, and bulls are sometimes seen being protective of females.

Do elephants drown?

They can swim completely submerged underwater, using their trunks to breathe. Because of this built-in snorkel, elephants can swim for hours without stopping. If they do get tired, the elephants' massive bodies allow them to easily float and rest—

it's nearly impossible for them to drown

! 10.

What do elephants do when they see a dead elephant?

“Witnessing elephants interact with their dead sends

chills up one's spine

, as the behavior so clearly indicates advanced feeling,” said Wittemyer, a member of the conservationist group Save the Elephants who is a wildlife expert at the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University.

Are lions afraid of elephants?

Are lions afraid of elephants? Surprisingly,

lions are afraid of most large mammals, including hippos, elephants, and the highly dangerous cape buffalos

.

What do elephants hate?

Elephants hate

chili peppers

. They have an extremely negative reaction to the plant's heat and will often avoid crops that have it intermingled with the more delicious fruits and vegetables.

Why are elephants afraid of bees?

The scientists think elephants are afraid of bees because

they dislike being stung in the soft tissue that's present inside their trunks and around their eyes

.

Do elephants like hugs?

Do elephants get depressed?

Do elephants like being petted?

Keep in mind that

an elephant is not a pet

; they're not bred to crave human affection like a domesticated dog (or, when it's in a good mood, a cat). That being said, individual preferences vary from elephant to elephant. Some love a scratch under the chin, others like a nice back rub.

Do elephants smile?

How long does an elephant hold a grudge?

2. The saying is true: Elephants never forget. In fact, they'll hold a grudge

for their entire lives

. 3.

How can you tell if an elephant is unhappy?

The tail of a relaxed elephant swings from side to side; the tail of an alert or uncomfortable elephant is held still, pointing downwards; and

the tail of an upset, frightened or angry elephant is held out stiffly at right angles from the body

.

How long do elephants remember things?

For instance, a pair of elephants who had performed in a circus together were able to recognize each other when they met more than

20 years

later! (Source). Their recognition skill is not only limited to other elephants; they are also found to bond with humans whom they had briefly met decades earlier!

How good are elephants memories?

It's got to remember every single one of those to get along well with its friends. So yes,

elephants have fabulous memories

, and this is one of the things that makes them so special. An elephant's brain can weigh up to 5 kilograms – larger than any other land animal. It helps store that amazing memory.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.