Elephants understand pointing

http://phys.org/news/2013-10-elephants-required.html

You would be forgiven for thinking that is unremarkable -until you are informed that not primate other than humans understands pointing.

Originally posted by humy
http://phys.org/news/2013-10-elephants-required.html

You would be forgiven for thinking that is unremarkable -until you are informed that not primate other than humans understands pointing.

Dogs understand pointing.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Dogs understand pointing.

I have video proof

YouTube

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Dogs understand pointing.

I concur.
When they lose their ball in long grass they look back at me for help and go wherever I point.

My cat understands pointing. But ignores me anyway 🙂

Do Creationists understand pointing?

Originally posted by wolfgang59
I concur.
When they lose their ball in long grass they look back at me for help and go wherever I point.

For a moment there I misread "ball" as "balls" in your quote and your quote sounded pretty hilarious and wasn't sure what exactly you where implying.

Originally posted by humy
For a moment there I misread "ball" as "balls" in your quote and your quote sounded pretty hilarious and wasn't sure what exactly you where implying.

LOL. That would be a good trick!

Reread your link and had a think about it ... I guess the difference with dogs
is that they learn to read my gesticulations as 'that is where the ball
is' but t he article implies that elephants have an innate understanding of
'pointing' and do not have to learn it.

Originally posted by wolfgang59
I guess the difference with dogs is that they learn to read my gesticulations

I think we would want to test that. I would think that any animal without innate ability in that area would find it hard to learn.

I think I would also point out that some dogs can point.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_breed

Originally posted by twhitehead
I think we would want to test that. I would think that any animal without innate ability in that area would find it hard to learn.

I think I would also point out that some dogs can point.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing_breed

Yep. Both my collies point and they are not even a "pointing breed".
Mainly it is to a toy to play with but they also point to spiders and dead bees!

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Yep. Both my collies point and they are not even a "pointing breed".
Mainly it is to a toy to play with but they also point to spiders and dead bees!

Many animals have 'danger' signals, and some indicate in which direction the danger is, others indicate what type of predator it is.

Originally posted by twhitehead
Many animals have 'danger' signals, and some indicate in which direction the danger is, others indicate what type of predator it is.

Dogs point at prey though.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Dogs point at prey though.

Wolves are cooperative hunters. They need to understand each others signals.

Here are some fish that know how to point:
http://news.discovery.com/animals/fish-use-sign-language-130429.htm

Originally posted by twhitehead

Here are some fish that know how to point:
http://news.discovery.com/animals/fish-use-sign-language-130429.htm

That's nothing.
YouTube

Originally posted by humy
You would be forgiven for thinking that is unremarkable -until you are informed that not primate other than humans understands pointing.

I think its possible that non-human primates do not point with thier hands, but use other ways to signal direction. Elephants however, having a trunk, may interpret human hand signals better.