Elephants Use Goal-Directed Gestures, Study Confirms

Elephants Use Goal-Directed Gestures, Study Confirms
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A new study published in Royal Society Open Science has found that African Savannah elephants use deliberate gestures to communicate their goals, expanding our understanding of intentional animal communication beyond primates.

Researchers tested 17 semi-captive elephants in Zimbabwe by offering them two trays—one with apples and one empty—while observing their interactions with attentive humans. The elephants used specific gestures only when a human was watching, directing their actions toward getting the desired apples.

If their goal was not fully met, such as receiving only one apple instead of six, the elephants adapted by inventing new gestures rather than repeating old ones. This indicates clear first-order intentionality—purposeful, goal-driven communication—a feature previously confirmed mostly in non-human apes. In total, the elephants used 38 gesture types and 313 individual gestures during the trials.

Researchers say these findings highlight the sophisticated social structures and cognitive skills of elephants and suggest similar studies could reveal intentional gesturing in other social species. The study sheds light on how complex communication may have evolved across species, offering valuable insight into animal cognition and the roots of human-like language.