Why elephants never forget - Alex Gendler

譯者: Ming Gui Tan 審譯者: Regina Chu

It's a common saying that elephants never forget,

俗話說「大象從不忘記」

but these magnificent animals are more than giant walking hard drives.

但這龐大的動物 可不只是活生生的巨型硬碟

The more we learn about elephants,

我們越了解大象

the more it appears that their impressive memory

就越發現牠們驚人的記憶力

is only one aspect of an incredible intelligence

只是牠們絕頂智慧的一部分

that makes them some of the most social, creative,

使牠們成為地球上 最具社會性、創意

and benevolent creatures on Earth.

並且仁慈的生物

Unlike many proverbs, the one about elephant memory

有別於大部分諺語 這句大象記憶力的諺語

is scientifically accurate.

是有科學依據的

Elephants know every member in their herd,

大象可以辨認 象群裡的每一個成員

able to recognize as many as 30 companions by sight or smell.

牠們可透過視覺或嗅覺 辨認多達 30 個同伴

This is a great help when migrating

這大大幫助了 大象的遷徙

or encountering other potentially hostile elephants.

或面對其他 可能有敵意的大象

They also remember and distinguish particular cues that signal danger

大象也可以記得和分辨 危險的端倪

and can recall important locations long after their last visit.

並回想起很久之前 去過的重要地點

But it's the memories unrelated to survival that are the most fascinating.

但最讓人感興趣的 是那些跟生存無關的記憶

Elephants remember not only their herd companions

大象不只能記得 象群裡的同伴

but other creatures who have made a strong impression on them.

還能記得對牠們 印象深刻的其他動物

In one case, two circus elephants that had briefly performed together

舉例來說，兩隻曾短時間 同台演出的馬戲團大象

rejoiced when crossing paths 23 years later.

在 23 年後 重逢時喜出望外

This recognition isn't limited to others of their species.

這種辨識不限於同類之間

Elephants have also recognized humans they've bonded with after decades apart.

大象也認出數十年前 深交的人類朋友

All of this shows that elephant memory goes beyond responses to stimuli.

這些例子均顯示出 大象的記憶力超越刺激反應

Looking inside their heads, we can see why.

解答就藏在他們的腦袋中

The elephant boasts the largest brain of any land mammal,

大象的腦是陸地上 所有哺乳動物中最大的

as well as an impressive encephalization quotient.

腦化指數也蠻驚人的

This is the size of the brain relative to what we'd expect

腦化指數是動物腦實際容量

for an animal's body size,

與預期的容量的比值

and the elephant's EQ is nearly as high as a chimpanzee's.

而大象的腦化指數 和黑猩猩不分上下

And despite the distant relation,

儘管兩者的關係甚遠

convergent evolution has made it remarkably similar to the human brain,

趨同演化已使這兩者的大腦 進化到接近人腦的地步

with as many neurons and synapses

即擁有一樣多的神經元以及突觸

and a highly developed hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

和高度發達的海馬迴及大腦皮質

It is the hippocampus, strongly associated with emotion, that aids recollection

就是這個與情感密切相關的海馬迴

by encoding important experiences into long-term memories.

透過將重要經驗編碼成長期記憶 來協助回憶

The ability to distinguish this importance makes elephant memory

區分這個重要性的能力 使大象的記憶力

a complex and adaptable faculty beyond rote memorization.

變成複雜而具有適應性 超越了機械性記憶

It's what allows elephants who survived a drought in their youth

這使得幼時經歷過乾旱的大象

to recognize its warning signs in adulthood,

成年後學會去辨認 乾旱的預兆

which is why clans with older matriarchs have higher survival rates.

這就是耆老女族長的 族群生存率較高的關鍵

Unfortunately, it's also what makes elephants one of the few non-human animals

不幸的是這種能力也讓 大象成為非人類中

to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

會患上創傷後 精神壓力障礙的動物之一

The cerebral cortex, on the other hand, enables problem solving,

然而，大腦皮層也賦予了 大象解決問題的能力

which elephants display in many creative ways.

大象透過各種 創意的方式表現這種能力

They also tackle problems cooperatively,

牠們也懂得合作

sometimes even outwitting the researchers and manipulating their partners.

有時牠們能欺瞞研究人員 和操縱同伴

And they've grasped basic arithmetic, keeping track of the relative amounts

牠們也掌握了基本算數 當兩籃蘋果經多次替換

of fruit in two baskets after multiple changes.

牠們還能清楚的 知道蘋果的相對數量

The rare combination of memory and problem solving

這種記憶力和解決問題能力的 罕見組合

can explain some of elephants' most clever behaviors,

能解釋大象 所表現出的聰明行為

but it doesn't explain some of the things we're just beginning to learn

但這並不能解釋 我們對牠們精神生活的新發現

about their mental lives.

Elephants communicate using everything from body signals and vocalizations,

大象藉著肢體和 聲音來溝通

to infrasound rumbles that can be heard kilometers away.

甚至傳輸幾公里外 也能聽到的低頻振動

And their understanding of syntax suggests that they have their own language and grammar.

而牠們對語法的理解也意味著 牠們擁有自己的語言及文法

This sense of language may even go beyond simple communication.

牠們的語感可能 已超過簡單對話的水準

Elephants create art by carefully choosing and combining

大象用心的將 各種顏色和元素排列組合

different colors and elements.

創造出自己獨特的藝術

They can also recognize twelve distinct tones of music and recreate melodies.

牠們甚至可以辦認出 12 種音調並且創作旋律

And yes, there is an elephant band.

沒錯，真的有一組大象樂團

But perhaps the most amazing thing about elephants

但大象眾多才能中 最值得一提的

is a capacity even more important than cleverness:

也許是一個比聰明才智 更重要的能力

their sense of empathy, altruism, and justice.

就是牠們的同理心 慈悲和正義感

Elephants are the only non-human animals to mourn their dead,

大象是非人類中 唯一會悼念死者

performing burial rituals and returning to visit graves.

舉行安葬儀式 和探望墳墓的動物

They have shown concern for other species, as well.

牠們也表現過 關心其他動物的行為

One working elephant refused to set a log down into a hole

一隻工作大象 拒絕將木頭放進一個洞裡

where a dog was sleeping,

只因為裡面有一隻 睡的正香的狗

while elephants encountering injured humans have sometimes stood guard

也有大象遇到受傷的人類 陪伴在側，保護他們

and gently comforted them with their trunk.

然後用鼻子 安撫他們

On the other hand, elephant attacks on human villages

此外，大象攻擊人類村莊

have usually occurred right after massive poachings or cullings,

往往發生在人類獵殺牠們後

suggesting deliberate revenge.

可能是有意報復的表現

When we consider all this evidence,

當我們考量這些證據

along with the fact that elephants are one of the few species

還有大象是少數

who can recognize themselves in a mirror,

能從鏡子中辨認出 自己的動物時

it's hard to escape the conclusion

我們不得不承認

that they are conscious, intelligent, and emotional beings.

牠們是能自覺 聰明和有情感的生物

Unfortunately, humanity's treatment of elephants does not reflect this,

不幸的是，人類之對待大象 跟這結論不能相應

as they continue to suffer from habitat destruction in Asia,

牠們在亞洲的棲息地 不斷的遭到破壞

ivory poaching in Africa, and mistreatment in captivity worldwide.

在非洲為了象牙被獵殺 在世界各地的圈養中飽受虐待

Given what we now know about elephants

我們如今既然那麼了解大象

and what they continue to teach us about animal intelligence,

以及牠們讓我們領悟到的 動物智能

it is more important than ever to ensure

確保牠們

that what the English poet John Donne described as "nature's great masterpiece"

如英國詩人約翰．多恩所說的 「大自然的偉大傑作」

does not vanish from the world's canvas.

不會消失於世界的畫布中 是我們的第一要務