Do elephants really have memories? - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**gregmcal** · 08-01-2007, 03:47 AM

DO ELEPHANTS REALLY HAVE MEMORIES? AN INTERESTING STORY!

In 1986, Mkele Mbembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University.

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mbembe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.

As carefully and as gently as he could, Mbembe worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Mbembe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Mbembe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Mbembe was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen-aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Mbembe and his son Tapu were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Mbembe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mbembe couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Mbembe summned up his courage, climbed
over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.

The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mbembe's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

**JonDopl** · 08-01-2007, 04:05 AM

I've seen footage of an Elephant that had been taught to kick a soccer ball, several different ways and to put the ball into a basketball hoop. You can't really train something that doesn't have long term memory

**Dynasty** · 08-03-2007, 02:59 AM

This is such an old tale.

i think the original was a Lion rather than an elephant

**ZXRamon** · 08-03-2007, 03:42 AM

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

Can't stop giggling... I am a horrible human being

**pinawinekolad** · 08-03-2007, 03:48 AM

Can't stop giggling... I am a horrible human being

nope.. you are not. i heard long time ago that 'it takes great man to cry, but it takes even greater man to laguh at the person who's crying..'.

pete

**pertikuss** · 08-03-2007, 04:04 AM

nope.. you are not. i heard long time ago that 'it takes great man to cry, but it takes even greater man to laguh at the person who's crying..'.

pete

How great am I?

I laugh at you lot all the time

**sensation** · 08-03-2007, 05:10 AM

Didn't know it was an oldie, still good

08-01-2007, 03:47 AM	#1
gregmcal Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 324 Senior Member	Do elephants really have memories? DO ELEPHANTS REALLY HAVE MEMORIES? AN INTERESTING STORY! In 1986, Mkele Mbembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mbembe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Mbembe worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Mbembe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Mbembe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day. Twenty years later, Mbembe was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen-aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Mbembe and his son Tapu were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Mbembe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mbembe couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Mbembe summned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mbembe's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly. Probably wasn't the same elephant. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-01-2007, 04:05 AM	#2
JonDopl Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 446 Senior Member	I've seen footage of an Elephant that had been taught to kick a soccer ball, several different ways and to put the ball into a basketball hoop. You can't really train something that doesn't have long term memory Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-03-2007, 02:59 AM	#3
Dynasty Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 419 Senior Member	This is such an old tale. i think the original was a Lion rather than an elephant Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-03-2007, 03:42 AM	#4
ZXRamon Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 562 Senior Member	Probably wasn't the same elephant. Can't stop giggling... I am a horrible human being Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-03-2007, 03:48 AM	#5
pinawinekolad Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 377 Senior Member	Can't stop giggling... I am a horrible human being nope.. you are not. i heard long time ago that 'it takes great man to cry, but it takes even greater man to laguh at the person who's crying..'. pete Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-03-2007, 04:04 AM	#6
pertikuss Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 383 Senior Member	nope.. you are not. i heard long time ago that 'it takes great man to cry, but it takes even greater man to laguh at the person who's crying..'. pete How great am I? I laugh at you lot all the time Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

08-03-2007, 05:10 AM	#7
sensation Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 366 Senior Member	Didn't know it was an oldie, still good Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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