Why Elephants Are The Best Animals On The Planet

Elephants are not just the cutest animals, but these animals have human traits that make them unique from the others in the animal kingdom. Here's 10 reasons why elephants are superior:

1. They make the best moms

Not only do they have to endure 2 years of pregnancy, but they nurse for years, stay close to their babies for life and make great protectors.

2. They are very emotional and smart

Elephants can comprehend grief, joy, anger, a desire to play and have excellent learning abilities. They have a more developed hippocampus than any other animal, the brain region responsible for emotion and spacial awareness.

An elephant in Korea actually learned and mimicked the commands his zookeepers gave it, learning 8 words and the meaning of them.

3. They have excellent memory

Elephants can recall information that occured years past. Studies have shown they never forget a face, and this remarkable recall power is a major component how they survive.

4. Elephants are REALLY talented

This elephant is about to slam dunk a basketball into a hoop... know any other animals who could do the same?

5. They get along well with others

Elephants are really friendly, and LOVE dogs. There have been reports of elephants showing altruism to other species, such as resucing trapped dogs at considerable cost to their own livelihood.

6. They have close knit friends

Elephants travel in herds of about 10, sticking close together and help each other find food and care for the babies. Females will never leave the herd, unless they die or are captured.

7. They mourn for the dead

Elephants are the only known animal to have death rituals when a member dies. When an elephant becomes sick, the others try to revive it with food and water. Once they have determined the elephant is dead, they dig shallow graves and cover the body with dirt and branches. They have even shown signs of depression if they were particularly close to a deceased peer.

8. They have their own language

Elephants communicate with their trunk, and move it side to side as primary means of communication.

9. They have recognition

Elephants are capable of understanding their own reflection. In a "mirror test" given to elephants, the subjects were able to recognize themselves in a mirror and kept touching their trunk to a white X painted on their forehead, only visible by looking at the mirror.

10. They are resourceful

Elephants can easily get sunburned and have figured out that by throwing sand on their backs and heads, working as sunscreen.