A reminder that intelligence is not rare

[newmac]

Check out this youtube of an elephant painting its self portrait. You'll be amazed. Even if he was taught the series of paint strokes to make; it is still amazing....

Elephants are better artists that many humans

Chimps have better number series recall

Some birds are better mimics...


http://youtube.com/watch?v=_LHoyB81LnE

[AndreasJ]

FWIW: A zoologist tells me the elephant's work was directed by a mahout outside the camera's view.

[01101001]

Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project:

Thailand - Hong

Two years ago, Hong began painting with her mahout, Noi Rakchang, and has steadily developed her skills. After learning how to paint flowers, she moved on to more advanced paintings. She now has two specialties. One is an elephant holding flowers with her trunk, and the other is the Thai flag. An elephant with so much control and dexterity is capable of amazing work. Just for clarification, with these realistic figural works, the elephant is still the only one making the marks on the paper but the paintings are learned series of brushstrokes not Hong painting a still life on her own.

Emphasis mine.

[newmac]

The interesting part is that it's not the elephants "hand" that is important but rather his nose. Our civilization rose to its height by virture of our hands and brains. Now imagine a civilization rising to a great height based on the nimbleness of the creatures Nose.

[Neverfly]

The interesting part is that it's not the elephants "hand" that is important but rather his nose. Our civilization rose to its height by virture of our hands and brains. Now imagine a civilization rising to a great height based on the nimbleness of the creatures Nose.

Elephants aren't the only ones...



Elephants are intelligent and their trunks are impressive.
Given time and evolution- it is possible that they may become intelligfent like us.
Who knows?
In the grand scheme of millions and billions of years- You couldn't even predict which current existing creatures might develop intelligence and which may not.

I'm sure an intelligent dinosaur would have scoffed had his buddies pondered intelligent mammals.

[Abbadon_2008]

Yep. T. Rex thought those furry little shrew thingies were just scooby snacks for the younguns. Little did 'Mr. T' know that one day, those furry little guys would one day running the joint.

I pity the fool who doubts the power of evolution!!!!

[Rue]

No, intelligence is not rare. Many different wild animals use tools, and may pass that knowledge on to the next generation indicating culture.

[newmac]

"Only us reptilian dinosaurs were created in the image of god. Its completely ridiculous that something as primitive as a monkey could ever have our great gift of intellect. Why just look at that hairy lowly beast. To even make such a speculation is heresy. Music and mathematics, that is only the province of us Reptilians. If you continue these wild speculations, I've quite a mind to report you to the Head Reptilian Commitee. " They might decide to cut off your probiscus as a learned punishment."

[IsaacKuo]

Thanks. I live in Louisiana, so I needed the reminder.

[ravens_cry]

The interesting part is that it's not the elephants "hand" that is important but rather his nose. Our civilization rose to its height by virture of our hands and brains. Now imagine a civilization rising to a great height based on the nimbleness of the creatures Nose.

Nose AND brain.The reason in my view they aren't the ones with the civilization is that they are too invulnerable as adults, so instead of having to use their brain to come up with things like technology to protect themselves from the the things that want to eat them, they are just big. But they are very intelligent,
there is no doubt about that. I would say they are the most intelligent centauroid life on the planet.