Report on Water-Hose Tool Use and Showering Behavior by Asian Elephants

 

Mary shows lateralized hose tool use and adjusts it to the showered body part

The following video shows how Asian elephants use water hoses to take showers.

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01371-X

Introduction

The study of animal tool use, historically observed in species such as chimpanzees, crows, and dolphins, extends to elephants, who exhibit unique tool-modifying behaviors. This report examines water-hose tool use in three female Asian elephants at the Berlin Zoo: Mary, Pang Pha, and Anchali. The focus lies on the sophistication of hose handling, individual differences in behavior, and social interactions that influence these behaviors.

Study Overview

The research investigates the specific ways elephants use water hoses, an object that combines flexibility, extension, and water flow, making it a complex tool. The elephants’ behaviors during self-directed showering sessions and the interaction between Mary and Anchali around hose use were systematically observed. Anchali’s actions suggested an intentional disruption of Mary’s showering, raising questions about potential social motives and cognitive capabilities.

Mary’s Water-Hose Use Mary exhibited complex hose-tool use behaviors, demonstrating lateralization in her handling of the hose and adjusting her technique based on the body part she intended to spray:

Systematic Showering

Mary showered various body parts using both her trunk and hose, with a preference for the left side when using the hose and the right when using her trunk alone. This adaptability highlighted her ability to modify her actions according to the tool’s physical properties.

Adaptability Across Hose Types

Mary was provided with hoses of varying diameters. She preferred the standard 24 mm hose for the longest showering sessions, while the thinner 13 mm and thicker 32 mm hoses affected her showering duration and choice of technique. This flexibility underscores her goal-directed tool use, altering her approach to achieve specific outcomes.

Anchali’s Disruptive Behavior Anchali’s interactions with the water hose took on a unique dimension:

Hose-Kink-and-Clamp Strategy

Anchali’s actions were observed as a sequence involving hose positioning, lifting, kinking, regrasping, and compressing, effectively disrupting Mary’s water flow. The frequency and effectiveness of these disruptions increased over time.

Social Dynamics and Intentionality

The context of these behaviors and frequent aggressive interactions between Mary and Anchali imply potential social motivations behind Anchali’s disruptions. Although control experiments with multiple hoses showed no clear preference from Anchali, her complex, repeated actions suggest intentionality rather than mere play.

Conclusions

The study reveals that elephants, like Mary and Anchali, possess nuanced tool-use skills. Mary’s adaptation of the water hose to shower herself and Anchali’s hose-kinking tactics both indicate high cognitive capacities and a potential understanding of tool manipulation for specific outcomes. These behaviors expand our understanding of elephants’ cognitive abilities, social interactions, and adaptability in tool use.

Acknowledgments — This study was conducted at the Berlin Zoo, with valuable support from the zoo’s staff and the research team funded by an ERC Synergy Grant.

This report focuses on the intricate behaviors observed in the study and highlights the complex interplay of tool use, adaptability, and social behavior among Asian elephants.