Section 1.1: Elephants: The Social Communicators

Elephants, much like us, are incredibly intelligent and social animals. They utilize various methods to communicate, one of which is known as “seismic communication,” or more commonly referred to as “rumbling.”

These rumbles travel through the air as sound waves and through the ground as seismic vibrations. Remarkably, an elephant’s rumble can be detected over distances of approximately 1,013 feet (309 meters) in air and between 813 to 866 feet (248 to 264 meters) on the ground. This capability allows elephant herds to stay connected even when they are dispersed.

In August 2023, a study released on the preprint server BioRxiv revealed that African savannah elephants may use something akin to names to recognize specific members of their social groups. An international team from the United States, Kenya, and Norway analyzed 625 elephant calls from two regions in Kenya. The majority (527 calls) were recorded in the greater Samburu ecosystem in northern Kenya, while 98 calls were from Amboseli National Park in the south.

The researchers identified 119 distinct rumbles associated with individual elephants. They determined which female elephants and their offspring were separated during each call and who approached the group afterward. Interestingly, their computer model accurately identified the intended recipients of 20 percent of the calls.

This indicates that these calls were not generic but rather personalized communications aimed at specific elephants. Moreover, the elephants responded more frequently to calls directed at them than to those meant for others, suggesting they can discern when a call is meant for them.

In essence, it appears that elephants possess a form of naming system, making them the first known non-human species to use unique sounds for individual identification. Unlike parrots or dolphins, who may mimic calls, elephants appear to have a more sophisticated means of personal recognition.

The first video titled "The Biggest Breakthroughs in Animal Research in 2023" showcases significant findings in animal studies that further illuminate these remarkable connections between species.

Section 1.2: Dolphins: The Use of 'Motherese'

Transitioning from elephants, let’s explore how dolphins communicate. When we think of “baby talk,” we often envision a higher-pitched, sing-song tone used with infants. However, linguists prefer the term “motherese,” which encompasses not only tonal changes but also simplified speech structures.

Research indicates that motherese plays a crucial role in early child development, capturing the attention of children more effectively than regular speech. When parents utilize motherese, children tend to develop larger vocabularies and engage in more babbling.

Dolphins, in contrast, communicate using a unique whistle that serves as their equivalent of a name tag. Each dolphin has a signature whistle, and when they call out, they wait for a response from others rather than repeating the same sound.

A groundbreaking study published in June 2023 revealed that bottlenose dolphins also employ motherese when talking to their calves. Laela Sayigh, a marine biologist, and her team studied recordings collected over three decades near Sarasota Bay, Florida.

The researchers discovered that the signature calls of mother dolphins exhibited a greater frequency range when their calves were nearby. Specifically, the high pitches became even higher and the low tones lower, reaching frequencies beyond human hearing capability. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

While we cannot definitively conclude that dolphins are using motherese, if they are, it would signify a unique capability among non-human species. Other animals, such as squirrel monkeys and zebra finches, also modify their calls when addressing younger individuals, albeit in different manners.