Beyond instinct: How animals show true intelligence

There’s no doubt that humans are the most intelligent species on Earth. However, intelligence is not exclusive to people—many animals display behaviors that go beyond instinct, using skills and decision-making that reflect their form of intelligence. On social media, we often see animals performing house chores, mimicking their owners, or carrying out impressive tasks. But how intelligent are these creatures? Do they only repeat what they are taught, or can they make independent decisions? This article explores scientific research into animal intelligence and highlights the species that have earned a reputation for being particularly smart.

Chimpanzee

With DNA that is 98 percent similar to ours, the chimpanzee is widely considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world.

In 1960, chimpanzees were first observed using tools—an ability once thought unique to humans. Later research revealed that these primates have rich social lives, complex emotions, and even metacognitive abilities—the ability to think about their thinking.

A 2014 study published in Nature found that chimpanzees outperformed humans in certain memory and cognitive tasks. One chimpanzee, Washo, learned American Sign Language and could understand 350 signs before she died in 2007.

Dolphin

Dolphins are so intelligent that many experts rank them among the smartest non-human creatures. These marine mammals lead socially complex lives, understand abstract ideas, solve problems, use tools, and express a wide range of emotions. Studies show that certain dolphin species can recognize themselves in mirrors and possess metacognitive skills.

Like dogs, dolphins can follow human commands. A 2013 study revealed that dolphins use unique sounds to refer to one another—essentially names—and can remember these vocal identifiers for at least 20 years.

Bonobo

Closely related to chimpanzees, bonobos are also remarkably intelligent. Alongside chimpanzees and orangutans, they are believed to possess "theory of mind"—an understanding that others have thoughts and emotions separate from their own. Research has shown that bonobos and chimpanzees can recognize familiar faces even after more than 26 years.

Interestingly, unlike humans and chimpanzees, bonobos are not known to kill each other. While male bonobos may engage in fights, these altercations are far less aggressive than those seen in other great apes.

Sperm Whale

The sperm whale boasts the largest brain of any creature alive today, weighing between 7 and 9 kilograms. These whales live in tightly bonded family groups, each with its own culture and system of communication.

Sperm whales use a vocal system known as "codas"—sequences of clicks—to communicate. Each group has its own variation, similar to dialects in human languages. Research suggests that sperm whales are skilled learners. During the 19th century, when they were heavily hunted, they appeared to share information on how to avoid hunters—evidence of cultural learning.

Pigeon

Often underestimated, pigeons are highly intelligent birds. They can count, recognize words, have sharp visual memory, and differentiate between objects. In a 2015 study, pigeons were trained to sort 128 images into 16 categories. When presented with new images, they continued to classify them accurately.

In a famous 1995 experiment, pigeons were trained to distinguish between the artworks of Monet and Picasso. After training, they correctly identified which artist created new, previously unseen works. Later, they also learned to recognize paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse.

Elephant

Elephants possess the largest brains among land animals and display exceptional memory, emotional depth, social intelligence, and problem-solving ability.

They live in tight-knit family units, care for each other, and even mourn their dead. Elephants are tool users and can understand when their own body is obstructing a task. They’ve been seen adjusting their behavior to solve such problems, showing a high degree of self-awareness.

Mouse

Though often seen as pests, mice are clean and surprisingly smart creatures. According to Dr. Jennifer Graham, a 2020 study showed that mice groom themselves more often than cats.

Mice can learn tricks, solve puzzles, display empathy, rescue fellow mice, and even imagine scenarios. A 2014 study on mouse cognition revealed that they sometimes outperformed humans in “implicit categorical generalization”—the ability to apply learned rules to new situations.

Orangutan

All great apes show advanced intelligence, and orangutans are no exception. They are especially good at learning and even innovating. One famous orangutan, Chantek, was taught sign language and created new signs of his own. Raised by an anthropologist, he learned to tidy his room, use the toilet, play games, and draw.

A 2018 study in Science demonstrated that orangutans possess "delayed reference"—the ability to communicate about things not happening in the present. In the experiment, researchers dressed as tigers and approached orangutan mothers and their young. The mothers moved their babies to safety but only made warning calls after the "predator" had left.

“The predator was gone, yet the mothers still made the warning call,” the researchers noted. They suggested the orangutans were communicating a past danger to their offspring.

“Delaying action in time and space is a complex cognitive skill,” the researchers concluded, “and a clear sign of general intelligence.”