How Far Does Animal Intelligence Go?

[Annie]

So I was talking with my friend, about how clever animals can be.
For instance, my dog had learnt (a doggie) version of sign language in a very short time, after going deaf at the age of 12 (she's 13 this month). She can now do nearly all the tricks she could before.

I want to know how FAR you think this could go.

I think animals are much smarter than we give them credit for. Another example, a horse who learnt to fake a limp, so it could get out of being ridden.

And look at all those movie animals, learning to do tricks and even stunts!!

[TheGunner18]

Elephants have an asolutely amazing long-term memory. They can remember a whole host of vital things for their survival that we Humans would probably need a map for, such as where the nearest waterhole to them is.

[Zeke]

According to statistics, a typical fully-grown border collie has the intelligence of a 4 year old child ^^ I stand by this because I have a border collie. Animals are much more amazing than we give them credit for

[KingKivuli]

all animals have good HQ most of them more than humans only reason people say they are dumb is cause they cant talk and say 'if they were smart they would have voice boxes' they do have voice boxes especially lion who know one nasty word..... ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR. *human flees*

just cause they cant talk dont mean they are idiots, in fact humans are compared to the likes of lions. their society has ran the same for eons. with the king at the top, the fights of dominance etc. and look at us. votes politics war religion.. everyone should take a page out of the lions book have a massive brawl and the strongest survive ^^

[Alicia]

I think humans are smarter than animals, but I can't say how much by exactly:)

Did you know that the only two 'animals' that have larger brains for their body size in the world are humans and dolphins?

[Shade]

well until they think up a way to build missiles and fly into space theyre probably not that smart

[DGFone]

I've read a book in which the author wrote how he would go to conferences. He would say that dolphins are not that smart, and that a fully-grown dolphin will have trouble learning sentences that toddlers have no trouble with. The only people not to get mad at that statement? Dolphin experts.

Now, being able to understand sentences is one of many forms of intelligence. We humans are really good with abstract concepts like math (hence our technological evolution), but we most likely suck at what other animals take for granted. For example as gunner said, elephants have an excellent memory. We don't. (Short term memory length: 20 seconds for humans).

[Annie]

[quote="Shade"]well until they think up a way to build missiles and fly into space theyre probably not that smart[/quote]

*cough* Animals have been to space.

Also, there are different kinds of smart. I couldn't build a missile, does this mean I'm a dumb animal?

[Moka]

Elephants have been known to mourn for their dead. That is, unless the poachers don't kill the entire herd and some are left that can actually recognize the dead.

That one lady...Goodman I think? She was able to form a way to communicate with gorillas...much like sign language.

Animals are a lot smarter than people give them credit for.

[AdAstrα]

I saw a wildlife documentary about a female leopard who had her only cub killed by a snake and spent about 2 weeks mourning. It was heartbreaking to watch ='(

Also, I have two rabbits, who I know for a fact are perfectly capable of making associations, recognising different sounds and objects etc. They might not look particularly intelligent, but there is definitely a lot more going on inside their little minds than we think.