An elephant displaying remarkable problem-solving skills drew attention at a zoological park when an Asian elephant from Berlin Zoo in Germany taught itself to peel bananas. The development amazed caretakers who had not trained the animal in any way.
Scientists observing the case noted that the elephant peels bananas faster than humans through a sequence of actions. The pattern includes breaking the fruit, shaking and collecting the pulp, and discarding the peel. They observed a repeated routine until most pulp was consumed, with a final check for any remaining scraps at the stem tip.
The behavior, described as a consistent modus operandi, can be seen in a video documenting the animal’s method.
In addition, Pang Pha, the elephant in question, appears to show a selective preference for bananas at a specific ripening stage, avoiding fruits that look overly mature on the outside. Caregivers reported receiving bananas with green or yellowish-peel conditions that Pang Pha did not peel, instead peeling about 82 percent of yellow-brown bananas.
Like many elephants, Pang Pha consumes bananas when they are still green or yellow, and generally rejects brown peels. However, when encountering yellow bananas with brown spots, the animal tends to peel them before eating.
The discovery of Pang Pha’s banana-peeling behavior surprised researchers. Elephants are known for cognitive prowess and dexterous trunks, yet experts acknowledge that the self-taught skill of peeling bananas has not been widely documented in this species.
I saw them fight before themselves.
Researchers sought explanations for Pang Pha’s unusual abilities and noted that she was brought to the Berlin Zoo in 1987. Keepers described how caretakers often feed peeled bananas and peel them in the elephant’s presence. As a result, researchers propose that Pang Pha learned to peel through observational learning by watching humans and other routines in the enclosure.
Researcher Michael Brecht emphasized that Pang Pha’s banana-peeling skill arises from a combination of factors—technique, speed, individuality, and suspected human influence—rather than a single behavioral component.
The study also indicates that none of the other elephants at the Berlin Zoo, including Pang Pha’s offspring, have learned the same trick. This implies that the ability is not easily transferable among elephants, which underscores the exceptional nature of Pang Pha’s self-taught behavior.
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