Elephantine memory: Jumbos never forget pals

LONDON: Elephants are more clever than you thought — they never forget old friends, and are social network experts too, says a new study.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have also found in their study that just like humans, some elephants are social butterflies while others prefer to stick to a close-knit group of friends.

Past studies suggested that elephants usually live in small groups centred around females and their young while adult males live independently . However, the latest study found that though males do live apart, females and their young actually have the sort of complex network of friends, relatives and acquaintances normally seen in humans.