Researchers have been impressed by the “inventive” and “expressive” use of a hose by an Asian elephant named Mary at the Berlin Zoo, who was observed using it to shower herself using unique techniques.
Neurobiologist Michael Brecht from Humboldt University Berlin told Reuters on Sunday that Mary’s ability to use the hose to flick water onto her back was “exceptionally good,” singling her out from the five elephants studied.
Brecht also highlighted Mary’s creativity in her use of “lassos” to reach her back while showering, suggesting that her expressive behavior might be a performance for other elephants.
“Look at me, I got the hose, I got the attention,” Brecht joked, interpreting Mary’s actions.
The study, published in Current Biology contributes to growing evidence of tool use in non-human species, challenging previous notions about animal cognition.
The research also observed another elephant, Anchali, attempting to disrupt Mary’s shower by manipulating the hose, further illustrating the complexity of elephant behavior.