The deep culture of elephants 象群中的深层文化
 

　　大象体型庞大，令人惊叹，但其特别之处远不止如此。其实，象群中存在一种社群文化，它们多代群居共生，年轻的大象向年长的大象学习。科学家们还发现，当一头大象死亡时，其它的象群成员会一同表示哀悼。此外，大象还拥有惊人的记忆力，事实证明这个能力有助其生存。听节目探讨象群中的社群结构。

　　词汇：society 社会

　　As well as impressive physical attributes, elephants have a rich cultural heritage, passed down through customs and social behaviour which is learned, remembered, and shared within their herds¹.

　　This is possible partly because of their social structure. Elephants live in complex, tightly knit, multigenerational societies, led by older females known as matriarchs. Younger elephants observe and mimic³ the behaviour of their elders, learning through experience. It helps that the herd² does almost everything together, from foraging⁴ and feeding to raising each others' young. These interactions lead to deep long-lasting relationships, which can last for decades.

　　Possibly because of these bonds, elephants seem to have emotional capacity. Just like humans, the creatures have been seen displaying signs of grief. When an elephant dies, others in the herd have been observed to repeatedly return to where the individual passed, which is said to be part of a mourning ritual. They may sniff⁵ and touch the carcass and bones and cover the site with leaves and sand. Moreover, a 2020 study by researchers Goldenberg and Wittemyer found that "elephants show broad interest in their dead regardless of the strength of former relationships with the dead individual", which may indicate advanced sentience⁶, the scientists say.

　　There's a saying found in many languages – 'an elephant never forgets'. In fact, memory has been essential to the survival of some elephant herds. A study within Great Kruger National Park found that, during an extreme drought in 2016, elephant groups led by matriarchs who had previously⁷ lived through a severe drought, had higher survival rates. Researchers concluded that the matriarchs likely remembered where sources of water could be located.

　　So, count yourself lucky that you live on the same planet as these immense majestic⁸ animals.

　　词汇表

　　physical attribute 身体特征

　　heritage 遗产

　　custom 习俗

　　social behaviour 社群行为

　　herd （兽）群

　　social structure 社群结构

　　tightly knit 联系紧密的

　　multigenerational 多代共存的

　　matriarch （象群中的）年长母象

　　mimic 模仿

　　elder 长辈

　　raise 抚养，喂养

　　long-lasting 持久的

　　bond 联系

　　emotional capacity 情感能力

　　grief 悲痛，悲伤

　　pass 死亡

　　mourning ritual 哀悼的仪式

　　sentience 感知能力

　　survival 生存

　　drought 干旱

　　survival rate 存活率

 

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