What we can learn from elephants (!)

Sometimes you have animals that you are just impressed by. I feel that way about elephants. I could have mentioned dogs here, but elephants are still a bit more impressive. They can cry and they feel your emotions.

1. Elephants live in a sisterhood

I find this a very cozy fact, because male elephants and female elephants split into groups. The females live together in a close-knit herd. The animals have a matriarchal way of living together, which means that the female is in charge. The female leader is also called the matriarch. Go girls!

2. An elephant's memory

The impressive animals not only have an imposing appearance, but also a similarly gigantic memory. This is a must, as the matriarch of the family must have all her knowledge at her disposal to make choices. She can gather quite a bit, as an elephant can live up to 70 years. Elephants even recognize each other after not seeing each other for about 20 years. Honestly, I really have to dig deep into my memory when I run into a classmate from high school. 2-0 for the elephants.

3. Assessing danger

Elephants have the ability to distinguish human voices from each other. They can hear from afar whether it is a man, woman, or child. Handy to know, as men often pose a danger to them.

4. Elephants mourn

When an elephant dies in the herd, something special happens. They will try to help their friend for several days. Elephants use their trunk over the body and give it nudges. The most impressive thing is that the herd returns to the place where the elephant died every year, as a kind of commemoration.

5. Quite a lot of emotions

It is known that elephants cry when they are sad, but it is not just that. They are self-aware, can show empathy, and feel your emotions. There are many stories known where a caregiver is comforted by an elephant.

Finally, just a side note: elephants are not (I repeat, NOT) for circuses and to ride in circles, and definitely not to make jewelry from.