RP276 Talking With Animals

 RP276 Talking With Animals

Many social animals use complex systems of communication: whales, elephants, and wolves, among many others. Most aspects of these languages are still a mystery to humans, though we're learning more every day. We are also teaching by training pets and service animals. Once in a while, we encounter an individual that really stands out—an animal that really seems to understand. These are some of them.

Lukas is called "the smartest horse in the world." He's even got a certificate from Guinness World Records to prove it. He identified 19 numbers in less than a minute. No other horses can compete with him. Lukas can also spell short words, nod for "yes," shake his head for "no," and identify shapes. His most remarkable skill, however, may be that he notices when something is missing. This requires abstract thinking that was thought to belong only to humans and apes. Lukas does tricks, but his ability to really communicate is what sets him apart.

Chaser is a border collie that has a lot of toys. More than 1,000 of them, in fact. Each toy has its own name, and Chaser, the dog remembers every single one. Over the years, Chaser's learned more than 1,022 nouns. She even understands some verbs. "Find," "nose," and "paw" are all actions she's been taught to perform. Chaser was only seven years old in 2012, so she's got lots of years of learning and playing with toys ahead of her.

Kanzi, the bonobo used to go to language classes with his mother. His mother was never interested in the lessons, but Kanzi was. One day, Kanzi astonished researchers by correctly using the words they'd been trying to teach his mother! They began teaching Kanzi, and now he knows about 450 words. He even makes up new words for new situations. Kanzi speaks using a machine that makes word sounds when he presses a button. He listens to humans and responds through this machine. He's actually been interviewed by a journalist!