Scientists studying elephants at Berlin Zoo have discovered surprising behavior in these animals.
Scientist Amused
A female elephant named Mary was seen using her trunk to lift and maneuver a hose to shower herself, even swinging it over her back like a showerhead.
This unique display of self-care caught the attention of researchers from Humboldt University, as such behavior is rare among elephants, according to Digi24.
Dr. Michael Brecht, co-author of the study, said he was thoroughly amused by Mary’s behavior.
He noted that elephants are known for using tools, often manipulating objects like palm leaves to brush off flies. But Mary’s advanced use of a hose is exceptional.
She seemed to prefer using the hose to wash her left side, while she used her trunk for her right.
Possible Mischief
The study also observed another female elephant named Anchali, who may have disrupted Mary’s shower intentionally.
Although all zoo elephants are trained not to step on hoses, Anchali was seen bending and pinching the hose with her trunk, cutting off the water flow.
The researchers even tested her reactions by setting up two hoses — one leading to Mary’s shower.
Though Anchali didn’t always choose the correct one, her increasingly effective technique raised suspicions of possible mischief.
Anchali took things further by using her body to sit on the hose, once again stopping the water. Dr. Brecht found this behavior particularly intriguing, noting:
“We’d love to know—does she find this funny? It’s amusing to us, but we can’t tell if Anchali is playing a joke or just being a bit mischievous.”
