1. Which word can replace “handy” at the beginning of the podcast?
A. useful
B. practical
C. clever
D. skilful
2. What is unique about Mary’s showering behaviour?
C. She showers with a hose.
3. What did Mary do if the hose was too thin or too thick?
B. She used her trunk instead.
4. Based on your understanding of the podcast, what sort of tools do chimpanzees and octopuses use?
A. those found in nature
5. According to the podcast, what do wild elephants do with objects?
D. none of the above
6. If you “sabotage” something, you …
A. damage it deliberately.
7. What strange thing did Anchali do?
C. She pulled the hose and blocked the water flow.
8. How old is Mary?
C. younger than 60
9. How does Mary feel about the younger female elephants?
D. She is annoyed easily by them.
10. How does Mary “reprimand” Anchali?
B. by tapping Anchali with her trunk
11. Complete the following summary using words from the podcast.
Mary uses different ways to wash different parts of her body. To clean her sides, she holds the hose near the water outlet with her (i) _____. To reach her back, she holds the hose further back and swings it over her (ii) _____ like a rope. She also likes to use her trunk to wash her (iii) _____ side and the hose to wash her (iv) _____ side.
Elephants normally bathe by dipping their trunks into water, sucking the water up and then spraying it on themselves. Photo: AFP
Answers
1. A
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. D
6. A
7. C
8. C
9. D
10. B
11. (i) trunk; (ii) head; (iii) right; (iv) left
Script
Voice 2: Kaufmann accidentally discovered Mary’s surprising behaviour during a visit to the elephant’s enclosure. The researchers were instantly interested in studying the elephant’s unique way of showering. According to the researchers, Mary was never trained to shower herself and does sometimes use her trunk. She adapts her technique depending on which part of her body she is cleaning. To spray her sides, Mary usually grabs the hose just behind the opening with her trunk. To reach her back, she holds the hose further back and swings it like a lasso over her head.
Voice 1: Kaufmann reported that Mary also switches what she uses to clean herself depending on which side of her body she washes. She prefers to shower her right side with her trunk and her left side with the hose. When the team introduced her to different hose sizes, they were intrigued to see how she adjusted her washing approach. If the hose was either too thin or too thick, she would opt to skip her shower entirely or spend more time using her trunk to clean up.
Voice 2: While animals such as chimpanzees and octopuses have been observed using tools before, the tools are usually much simpler compared to hoses and are not created by humans. In the past, wild elephants have been seen manipulating objects like branches and rocks to destroy electric fences and break pipes to reach water, demonstrating their ability to improvised tools in unusual situations.
Voice 1: Researchers were even more astonished by the behaviour of another female elephant, Anchali. The 12-year-old elephant watched Mary showering and seemed to exhibit behaviors aimed at interrupting the process multiple times. She was seen pulling the hose towards herself and trying to twist and lift it with her trunk, effectively stopping the water flow.
Voice 2: Mary is 50 years old and has been living in Berlin since 1987. The elephant displays a dominant personality and reportedly interacts better with male elephants than with her female counterparts at the zoo. Mary’s behavior indicates that she does not have a fondness for younger elephants, as she quickly becomes annoyed in their presence. Researchers speculate that her interactions with Anchali could involve elements of impatience and reprimanding, observing her use of her trunk to assert authority over her younger counterpart. Researchers continue to investigate the reasons behind Anchali’s actions, pondering whether they stemmed from a desire to take revenge on Mary.
What unique techniques does Mary use when showering with a hose, and how does this differ from typical elephant bathing behaviors?
**Interview with Dr. Kaufmann on Mary’s Showering Behavior**
**Interviewer:** Welcome to our show. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Kaufmann, who has been studying Mary, an elephant with some rather fascinating showering behaviors. Thank you for being here, Dr. Kaufmann.
**Dr. Kaufmann:** It’s my pleasure! I’m excited to share what we’ve discovered about Mary.
**Interviewer:** Let’s dive right in. You mentioned that Mary displays unique techniques when it comes to showering. Can you explain how she does this?
**Dr. Kaufmann:** Absolutely! Mary uses different strategies for different parts of her body. For example, to wash her sides, she usually holds the hose right behind the outlet with her trunk. If she’s cleaning her back, she’ll swing the hose over her head like it’s a lasso.
**Interviewer:** That’s intriguing. What’s particularly unique about her behaviour, compared to what we typically see in elephants?
**Dr. Kaufmann:** Most elephants wash themselves using their trunks by sucking up water and spraying it on their bodies. But Mary has adapted by using a hose and shows a clear preference for which side she uses for each method. She tends to wash her right side with her trunk and the left side with the hose.
**Interviewer:** So, does the size of the hose affect her showering behaviour?
**Dr. Kaufmann:** Yes! When we introduced her to hoses of different sizes, we noticed that Mary would completely skip her shower if the hose was too thin or too thick. Instead, she would rely more on her trunk for cleaning.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite the strategy! How does her interaction with younger female elephants play into her behaviour?
**Dr. Kaufmann:** Mary has shown some annoyance towards younger elephants, especially when they disrupt her routines. She actually reprimands them by tapping them with her trunk, which shows her social hierarchy and preference for personal space.
**Interviewer:** Fascinating insights! what do you find most remarkable about Mary’s ability to learn and adapt her washing techniques?
**Dr. Kaufmann:** It’s incredible how elephants can modify their behaviour based on available tools and their environment. This adaptability highlights their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, which we continue to study.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Kaufmann, for sharing your insights about Mary the elephant. Her showering behaviour is certainly a testament to the remarkable adaptability of animals.
**Dr. Kaufmann:** Thank you for having me! It’s important to highlight these behaviors as they deepen our understanding of elephant cognition.
