Elephants have been observed using sticks, branches, and even rocks to scratch parts of their bodies they can’t easily reach. They select tools based on size and shape, showing deliberate choice. Some elephants modify branches by breaking them to the right length. This is considered true tool use, not accidental behavior. Tool use is rare among animals and linked to higher intelligence.
It matters because tool use demonstrates problem-solving ability. Elephants don’t just endure discomfort—they solve it.
It also places elephants in a select group of animals capable of adapting objects for specific purposes. This reshapes how intelligence is measured across species.
Elephants have been seen returning to the same scratching tool multiple times. This suggests planning and memory, not random behavior.
Animal Behaviour Journal (sciencedirect.com)