A new study has shown that Asian elephants not only hear and smell humans but also closely monitor the direction of their body and gaze.
Scientists from Kyoto University have found that elephants can distinguish whether a person is paying attention to them by simultaneously analyzing the person's body position and the direction of their gaze.
In an experiment with ten female elephants in Thailand, it was discovered that the animals more frequently displayed gestures requesting food when both the body and face of the person were directed towards them. The orientation of the body was more significant, but only when the face was also directed at the elephant.
Understanding how elephants read human attention will help improve interactions with animals in zoos and wildlife conservation, as well as reduce stress levels and the likelihood of misunderstandings during encounters.
