Intelligence of Animals

I find myself often questioning the intelligence of humans. The average person spends more time choosing a new car color than choosing a president. As a nation we’re loose ground to third world countries; we’re not too overly concerned. We’ll call it a ‘darn shame’ and toss money at it again. We sulk and sink into a great national depression if the home town b-ball team doesn’t bring home the prize. Forget having an open discussion on religion- unless you don’t mind being nailed to a wall. Just as radical are computer platform wars; I’ve been known to aggrevate a few lively discussions.

But animals are intelligent. Far more so than the average human is aware. I have seen proof in my life and have participated in the ‘development of animal intelligence’ training Service Dogs, Assistance Monkey, and I have most recently experienced Therapy Dolphins www.islanddolphincare.com And scientists claim they’ve barely scratching the surface. Science discovers amazing things about animals each year. Here is very interesting study to explore the intelligence of African elephants and to bolster our own ‘intelligence of animals’. LOL
Nature camera artist Martyn Colbeck treks alongside African elephants. His video documentary spans over 15-years and reveals the most stunning interactions not just of elephants, but of wild elephants accepting humans in their midst. , accepting him as one of the family. Can you imagine such an encounter? Lying with 15 sleeping elephants? The snoring? Colbeck watched and filmed a wild birth. You have to see this documentary come true in 2007. They demonstrate for him their astonishing feats of memory in the finding of water holes. The second half features the development of a baby, Ebony, in Nature’s daytime soap opera. The plot includes a kidnapping by a neighboring herd. You’ll have to tune in to find out what happens. As Colbeck states; and this is the guy who has studied, observed, and filmed 15 years, these African elephants exhibit community cooperation, group aggression and teamwork to accomplish family goals, family tenderness and party atmosphere, joy and sadness, but mostly intelligence.

Calling Martyn Colbeck only a cameraman is unlikely. His observations and documented elephant activities from forest to desert are unprecedented. His documentary a must see. Here’s a preview of the documentary on PBS Nature, see the Elephant preview dated 1/24/2008:

Interested readers can jump to: elephantconservation.org/ AND: nationalgeographic gorillas-weapons

I was so fortunate to spent four days with an Asian elephant and her crew. A group of California ranchers had her brought in as the very special guest of their annual round up. Day one: The sunrise directly behind as the elephant comes over the ridge with riders. The horses and men go wild and the sound rises from her footsteps to a roaring canyon. She paused for perhaps ten seconds. The trainer whispers, scratching some tiny piece of her. After a few more seconds we led her down into the valley. Day three: The ranchers do a trail ride. The elephant was disappointed when the trainers stopped her to the tree line. She wouldn’t have fit. That day we roamed the lush green valley in a small group. She would trumpet and listen for the horses to return. In that moment, it was amazing to be accepted (in a small way and for only four days) by that magnificent giant. There is nothing to explain her affection and care for me. I could see it in her eyes. Martyn Colbeck is a Hero for his cinematographic body of evidence.

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Tags: animals, Categorized, RAVE, video edit