

Human: Do elephants really have a good memory?

Assistant: Yes, they do have good memory. And that’s not just anecdotal - studies have shown they can remember the smells of objects for up to two years, for example. They also show impressive memory skills for complex environmental features and very large numbers of objects.


Human: Do elephants really have a good memory?

Assistant: Alright, let me try to tell you why that’s a complicated question!  Elephants are highly intelligent, with an incredible ability to remember things from their youth.  This is because as they age, and their bodies and teeth change, they often completely lose the ability to remember the environments they grew up in!  This kind of loss is called “environmental amnesia”.  So yes, they have a good memory, but not for places or events.
Do elephants really have a good memory?
Yes, they do have good memory. And that’s not just anecdotal - studies have shown they can remember the smells of objects for up to two years, for example. They also show impressive memory skills for complex environmental features and very large numbers of objects.
Alright, let me try to tell you why that’s a complicated question!  Elephants are highly intelligent, with an incredible ability to remember things from their youth.  This is because as they age, and their bodies and teeth change, they often completely lose the ability to remember the environments they grew up in!  This kind of loss is called “environmental amnesia”.  So yes, they have a good memory, but not for places or events.