5 INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT ANIMALS

Apes—or more specifically, chimpanzees—share 94% of their DNA with humans and show incredible signs of intelligence. We are always super-impressed whenever animals display the ‘human’ quality of learning. The following are some of the world’s smartest animals, doing some pretty smart things.

1. Octopuses

Octopuses are considered the most intelligent of all *invertebrates and are even smarter than most other species on the planet. They have both short-term and long-term memories, and they can escape from aquariums. It’s very difficult to keep octopuses as pets because of their problem-solving skills and their ability to squeeze through openings no bigger than their eyeballs.

2. Elephants

Humans have domesticated and trained elephants for the last four thousand years. People have used their intelligence coupled with their strength in construction, war and entertainment. The extremely sad fact is that if elephant hunting continues at this rate, African elephants could be extinct in less than fifteen years.

3. Crows

A member of the highly intelligent bird family known as corvids, crows have often proven themselves just as clever as chimps and gorillas. Their brains are about the same size as some *primates and they also share many behavioural similarities: using tools to get food, using their memories and guessing the future events to help them solve problems.

4. Pigs

We are quick to reward the dog when he rolls over on command, but we get annoyed by the sight of a pig rolling in the dirt. However, pigs are, in fact, smarter than dogs. Pigs can learn the meaning of certain words and phrases and, after years without hearing them, will still remember what those meanings are. Mothers sing to their young while they’re nursing, pigs learn from the mistakes of other pigs, and they can play video games too complex for 3-year-old children.

5. Chimpanzees

Scientists say humans and chimpanzees have evolved from the same species, and this can be true for some very interesting reasons. For example, chimpanzees can use tools to eat their food just like humans and can make weapons for hunting. They live in highly organised groups, can appreciate a beautiful sunset, will feel pain after the death of a loved one and can learn sign language and even teach it to the other chimpanzees.

*invertebrate: an animal with no spine (skeleton)

*primates: a group of animals which includes monkeys and humans, and have large brains and hands