Elephants can sniff out human friends from foe

Read more: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12802

A recent study at the University of St Andrews found that elephants fled faster when presented with clothes worn by threatening Maasai people, compared to clothes worn by the more peaceful Kamba farmers.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Maasai
• elephants
• smell
• clothes
• Kamba
• new
• scientist
• newscientist

[transferosome]

'that so stupid... i mean u have to be a scientist to figure that out? do u run faster from a lion or a cat? '

Yeah, but until that experiment was conducted we didn't know if threat identification was just visual and auditory or involved the sense of smell.

More knowledge for us. :)

[SirFoggy2Doped]

NO SHIT!!!,Elephants aint stoopid:D!!

It's funny how science lacks the common sense to figure that out.

We've KNOWN FOR YEARS that elephants have a VERY sensitive sense of smell.

Try putting two and two together next time:)

[1337cookie]

They said that all the clothes were red. I also doubt there would be any sound.

[BOZOPUSSYCAT]

This research is partly true cause Historically the kamba were long distance traders.This sort of trade can only happen if you get on well with the customers (other tribes).they were also the first to host an missionary station (open to outsiders). The maasai on the other hand are a warrior tribe, viewed with suspicion & fear, and rarely mixed with others.

[davidrvrthompson]

this is kinda silly...

so i guess if a herd of cows and sheep came by the elephants they would run away too

[marque89]

that so stupid... i mean u have to be a scientist to figure that out? do u run faster from a lion or a cat?