Research has shown that some animals are much smarter than most people realize. This is for example shown by the ability of primates and birds that are able to operate tools, or mammals that show advanced cognitive abilities.
Even tiny insects can solve complex problems by working together. At least, there are 10 smartest animals in the world based on research, as quoted from Treehugger.
1. Crow
Crows are more than just black birds. They are also very intelligent animals known to be able to complete multiple tasks. Researchers from Canada and Scotland have shown that crows use logic to understand their environment in a way that may exceed the capabilities of great apes.
The researchers challenged the crows by giving them food that could only be retrieved by completing a series of complex tasks first. Unexpectedly, the crows found a way to take food on their own without the help of researchers.
2. Dolphins
Dolphins have been proven to be intelligent animals. They can recognize themselves in the mirror to communicate with each other.
The dolphin's cerebrum is structured for awareness and emotion. Their brains are even more structurally complex than humans.
According to dolphin expert at Emory University Lori Marino, dolphins have bigger brains than other animals but that's according to their body size. Only humans have bigger brains.
3. Rat
Rats have a bad reputation because they are considered disgusting and are often called disease-causing animals. However, rats are intelligent animals. A well-kept rat can even be trained like a dog, such as how to pick up food or roll over.
The ability of mice to solve problems has also been proven by many scientific studies, for example completing missions through mazes by being rewarded with food. This also implies that there is a wide range of intelligence among rodents.
4. Pig
Researchers have found that pigs can use mirrors to find their food and will try to trick other pigs, so they get more food.
Pigs can also learn quickly, and can perform a variety of tricks from jumping hoops to being able to play video games with a joystick.
5. Bonobo
Close relatives of chimpanzees are also popular as intelligent animals. Unfortunately, the bonobos are currently so endangered that they can only be found in Central Africa. Like other great apes, bonobos can learn to use sign language and symbols.
In one study, researchers taught a bonobo named Kanzi how to communicate using a lexigram on a keyboard, the ape was able to learn some basic sign language on its own just by watching a video of a gorilla named Koko.
In addition, Kanzi can cook his own food and even outperform toddlers when it comes to learning cognitive abilities when he was only eight years old.
6. Duck
Scientists at the University of Oxford placed the ducks in a cage and placed two different pairs of objects around them. A pair of exact shapes, such as two spheres and a pair of incongruous shapes, such as a cylinder and a cube.
Duck intelligence is seen from those who follow a pair of objects that are most similar. So, if they follow two balls in the first cage, they will follow an exact pair of cubes in the second cage.
The researchers explain that this trend has previously only been seen in primates, crows and parrots. This suggests that ducks may be smarter than previously thought.
7. Elephant
Elephants also have a reputation for intelligence. They have been observed using tools such as sticks to pick up fleas and palm fronds to get rid of flies. They also have very good memories.
Elephants can recognize members of their herd even after being separated from the herd for years and can remember the location of water sources if their home is currently experiencing a drought.
8. Cow
Cows seem like calm animals. In addition, cows have a rich and complex emotional life. These animals can even experience emotions such as fear and anxiety, and also have excellent memories.
In fact, cows develop their own social circle, befriending cows who treat them well and avoiding those who don't. One scientific study also revealed that when cows were rewarded for improving a task, they were more motivated. This indicates that the cows are aware of an improvement in their own learning process.
9. Bees
Bees are called by experts as an example of classic herd intelligence. A bee may not be smart in the classical sense, but a group of bees can.
If a group of bees needs to find a new hive, they work together to gather information and share their findings. Then they vote for which location will serve best as their new home. When bees disagree, they can hold democratic elections to make decisions for their hives.
10. Squirrel
The squirrel looks agile moving here and there. He did not hesitate to cross the busy street and quite dangerous for him. As it turned out, a squirrel might just cross the road if there was food on the other side, and it didn't matter to him.
According to a study from the University of Exeter, squirrels are fast learners, and they learn from their friends, especially when they need to steal food.
Also, although squirrels are known to bury food in the fall in preparation for winter, they will sometimes just pretend to bury it to trick other animals, preventing other animals from identifying the actual location of the food supply.