Elephant seals have proven that they have intelligence (video)

Scientists are surprised: an elephant seal in the United States showed altruism and saved a drowning female calf.

The incident occurred on the coast of the Point Reyes resort: a two-ton elephant seal without hesitation saved the female calf, surprising biologists with his action. tells The New York Times. National Park Service staff were investigating a population of northern elephant seals near San Francisco. As they passed by the animals resting on the beach, they noticed how the tide dragged a cub lying next to the female into the sea.

Due to his age, the “baby” was unable to cope with the force of the waves and only made plaintive sounds. The female watched him and responded, probably encouraging the cub. An adult male was nearby. It should be noted that males of this species do not have parental instincts. First he sniffed the female and then rushed into the sea. Swimming to the baby, he carefully pushed him ashore. Biologists note that he saved the cub’s life.

Dr Sarah Allen, who has spent more than four decades observing elephant seals, says she has never seen anything like this before. Ecologist Daniel Costa of the University of California says male elephant seals do not have parental instincts. During the breeding season (from December to March), these giants focus only on mating and fighting rival males. Sprawling on the beach and moving along the sand, they are capable of crushing their own offspring with their two tons of body.

Observations by Sarah Allen and her colleagues published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. Scientists note that, rushing to save the baby, the elephant seal not only left its harem of females, but also spent valuable energy. This gesture can be considered an act of altruism, when one organism sacrifices part of its well-being to help another. Dr. Allen admits that the male elephant seal and the rescued calf may be related, but only genetic data could confirm this.

Dr. Costa believed that elephant seals lacked the intellectual capabilities of their “cousins,” the sea lions. But a dramatic rescue on the beach at Point Reyes has made him question those conclusions. The male’s action showed that they most likely have more intelligence than meets the eye.

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