The human being, as a "more developed" species, has considered animals as less intelligent and evolved creatures, to the point of using them as tools for work, food or entertainment.
However, countless scientific and ethological studies confirm that many animal species have developed impressive intellectual capacities, based on studies of logic, language, memory, learning or cognition, among others.
In this article on our site we will show you the 10 most intelligent animals and we will explain the reasons that have led scientists to classify them as very intelligent animals. Find out below the 10 smartest animals in the world:
1. The pig
According to Donald M. Broom, professor of animal welfare at the University of Cambridge, pigs are highly sensitive, skilled and intelligent animals These mammals have a higher level of intelligence than other animals, which could be compared to that of a three-year-old child.
In addition, they have shown their ability to solve problems quickly, thus outperforming some primates. Pigs are curious, social and affectionate animals with other individuals and with the outside environment. They are cognitively complex, able to socialize, learn, and deceive naturally.
As studies on their intelligence advance, pigs are often compared to dogs and cats, which is why many people are in favor of having a pig as a pet. Although it may not seem so at first, they are clean, affectionate and very intelligent animals.
two. Elephant
The brain of elephants, which weighs just over five kilograms, is considered the largest of all land animals and has the same neurons as a human beingLike homo sapiens, the elephant is not born with instincts to survive, so it must go through a long apprenticeship that lasts around 10 years.
Elephants are creatures with a very high sensitive and emotional developmentThey have very close family relationships that can only be broken by the death or capture of one of their members. After a loss, the entire family goes through a process of mourning and even depression, which includes funeral rituals. Discover more curiosities of the elephant on our site.
3. The Raven
Throughout history, the raven has received a endless number of symbolic attributes related to death, disease or war. It is an animal that has been closely related to man and his oldest beliefs
The truth is that ravens have an amazing intelligence, since they are capable of logically solving different problems as well as building tools to achieve your goals. They also play for pleasure and interpret the social relationships that other ravens outside their own group maintain. The raven is undoubtedly one of the 10 most intelligent animals in the world.
In the same way as the human being, the crow, when it is considered mature enough, says goodbye to its parents, leaves the nest and takes flight by itself. However, it does not become completely independent, but forms groups of crows of the same age, living together, experimenting and growing until they find a partner with whom they can form their own family.
4. The cow and the bull
Although the pig has managed to shake off its "farm animal" stigma and be recognized for its intelligence, cows and bulls still have a long way to go. Their favorite activities are eating, socializing, sunbathing and, ultimately, enjoying the pleasures of life, occupations that did not reveal great intelligence, so they were not studied.
However, today we can say that they are animals very intelligent and sensitive, with a great emotional capacity, which sometimes is superior to that of other animals. Being considered "prey" by other animals, cows are often wary of new environments and new experiences, but brave if they eventually find themselves in conflict. Numerous cases are known in which some parents have fled from slaughterhouses to return to their calves.
Bovids are very similar to human beings on a psycho-emotional level. Cows and bulls are affected by feelings such as fear, pain and joy They also worry about the future, have friends, enemies and are extremely curious. Without a doubt, cows feel as much as we do.
5. The octopus
The octopus is undoubtedly the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Octopods have only a third of their neurons in their brains while the rest are found in their tentacles.
These are solitary animals that discover the environment by themselves and generate long-term memory. They are also able to use logic and use tools Through their tentacles, octopuses are able to touch and taste, thus obtaining all kinds of information about the environment in they are found.
6. Dogs
Although the level of intelligence of a dog can vary depending on its breed and other factors, the truth is that it is a of the 10 most intelligent animals in the world, in addition to being really faithful.
Dogs are capable of understanding a large number of words, of interpreting verbal and physical language, of using logic to achieve their goals and even have short-term and long-term memory. The mental stimulation that can be given to a dog during his early life greatly enhances his future developmental abilities
In addition to the above, dogs are social creatures capable of understanding humans and other animals, relating positively with them. In addition, feel different emotions such as pain, joy, fear, and anxiety.
7. Horse
As with cows, it is mistakenly believed that horses are not intelligent and that their behavior is closely related to their primal instincts. However, it is a very intelligent animal, which has a very complete emotional system similar to that of a human being
Horses are curious and adventurous animals, capable of remembering specific experiences and places, since they have short- and long-term memory. The level of intelligence can vary depending on the breed and the stimulation they receive, as it happens with dogs. A horse that spends all day locked in a box probably has a poor intellectual level, in addition to feeling emotionally sad.
Horses are of the most sensitive and empathetic animals in the world, coming to understand words and interpret the emotions of other living beings, which has made him one of the best therapy animals in the world. This animal, in addition to being noble and faithful, is an excellent companion for life and a very intelligent being.
8. The rat
Rats are by far the most intelligent rodents around. They are very sociable animals that live in large colonies of individuals and that work together and in a coordinated way for their conservation. The rat colony has a very large number of nests to move the young and ensure their survival in the event of a flood or natural disaster.
We also observe that the oldest or weakest in the group sacrifice themselves if necessary, trying a food that could be toxic or venturing into a dangerous place to ensure the survival of the he althiest.
They are very empathetic creatures, as they help each other and form very close social relationships. In addition, their physical abilities are unmatched: a rat is capable of swimming up to 400 meters and overcoming a fall of 20 meters.
If you have ever considered adopting a rat as a pet, do not hesitate. These rodents are capable of interpreting and learning human physical and verbal language, performing various tricks and using logic to achieve their goals. They are undoubtedly very intelligent animals and worthy of being in this top 10.
9. The dolphin
Dolphins have a much larger brain than humans, as well as four hemispheres instead of three. These are animals with great social and communication skills, since they are capable of using a wide vocalization system in addition to having specific sounds to name each individual of a group.
Dolphins have extremely close relationships with members of their own pod, but we can especially observe this in mothers and offspring, who do not They separate until they are three years old. Furthermore, these mammals have been shown to be self-aware.
Although they are known to be the most playful animals in the world, dolphins are also very intelligent animals, capable of using logic and different toolsto improve your daily life.
10. The chimpanzee
To finish with the 10 most intelligent animals in the world, we will talk about the chimpanzee, which shares 98% of DNA with the human being human. It is believed that they are the animals on the planet that most resemble homo sapiens and perhaps for that reason they have been the subject of study for generations.
The chimpanzee is an ape that is aware of itself, is capable of transmitting its "culture" to future generations and also it has symbolic capacity, absent other species of animals. Chumpanzees can learn about 300 words of sign language, so it is estimated that their language is complex and varied. They also have an excellent mathematical memory, which exceeds that of many humans. It is estimated that the intelligence of a chimpanzee could be compared to that of a 2, 3 or 4 year old child.
In addition, these great apes are capable of producing various tools to achieve their goals, which highlights their planning capacity.
It is about being sensitive, with its own personality and with very marked emotions. Chimpanzees feel the death of their companions and go through a grieving process. They are generous and very sociable animals, and are self-aware.
