Asian elephants console others in distress

Asian elephants console and reassure each other when they are distressed by touching and 'talking', according to a new study that suggests the animals are capable of empathy and reassurance.

The findings that these elephants comfort others using physical touches and vocalisations are the first empirical evidence of consolation in elephants, researchers said.

Consolation behaviour is rare in the animal kingdom, with empirical evidence previously provided only for the great apes, canines and certain corvids.

"For centuries, people have observed that elephants seem to be highly intelligent and empathic animals, but as scientists we need to actually test it," said lead author Joshua Plotnik, who began the research at Emory University.

"With their strong social bonds, it's not surprising that elephants show concern for others," said co-author Frans de Waal, an Emory professor of psychology.

"This study demonstrates that elephants get distressed when they see others in distress, reaching out to calm them down, not unlike the way chimpanzees or humans embrace someone who is upset," said Waal.

Plotnik and de Waal provided evidence that elephants can both recognise themselves in a mirror - a test of self-awareness passed only by some apes, dolphins and magpies - and problem-solve cooperatively.

The study focused on a group of 26 captive Asian elephants spread over about 30 acres at an elephant camp in northern Thailand.

For nearly a year, the researchers observed and recorded incidents when an elephant displayed a stress reaction, and the responses from other nearby elephants.

Initial stress responses came from either unobservable, or obvious, stimuli: Events such as a dog walking past, a snake or other potentially dangerous animal rustling the grass, or the presence of another unfriendly elephant.

"When an elephant gets spooked, its ears go out, its tail stands erect or curls out, and it may emit a low-frequency rumble, trumpet and roar to signal its distress," Plotnik said.

The study found that nearby elephants affiliated significantly more with a distressed individual through directed, physical contact following a stress event than during control periods.

As a typical example, a nearby elephant would go to the side of the distressed animal and use its trunk to gently touch its face, or put its trunk in the other animal's mouth.

Plotnik said the gesture of putting their trunks in each other's mouths is almost like an elephant handshake or hug.

"It's a very vulnerable position to put yourself in, because you could get bitten. It may be sending a signal of, 'I'm here to help you, not hurt you'," Plotnik said.

The study was published in the journal PeerJ.