A new addition has been made to the list of animals capable of mimicking human speech – the Asian elephant Koshik. He has become the first animal of his kind in the world to learn how to repeat human words.
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SubscribeKoshik resides at the Everland Zoo, located in Yongin, near the capital of South Korea. At 35 years old, he has amazed scientists with his unique ability – he articulates Korean words by modulating sound with his trunk. His "vocabulary" includes at least five words: "no," "sit," "good," "lie down," and "hello," writes Unilad.
This phenomenon caught the attention of Dr. Angela Stöger from the University of Vienna, who decided to investigate the "talking" elephant. Her team conducted an experiment by recording Koshik's sounds and having Korean speakers listen to them. Surprisingly, people could clearly recognize familiar words, proving that the elephant has indeed learned to mimic human language.
Researchers note that Koshik has developed his own pronunciation technique. He places the tip of his trunk in his mouth and uses it to create sounds similar to human speech. In doing so, the elephant alters the shape of his oral cavity, allowing him to imitate the timbre and pitch of a human voice.
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Due to significant anatomical differences between humans and elephants, such a capability is astonishing. An elephant's vocal tract is considerably longer, its larynx is large, and it lacks lips – instead, it has a trunk. Nevertheless, Koshik has managed to adapt his vocal skills to respond to the voices of his trainers.
Scientists have yet to explain all the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, but one thing is clear – the elephant is indeed unique. His abilities open new avenues for researching animal communication and their interactions with humans.
Previously, we reported on a new stage of evolution: dogs have become better at understanding humans and adapting to them.
How to teach a dog politeness without quarrels and punishment – read more on Znaj.ua.