9 of the smartest animals in the world

Here are some of the smartest animals on the planet, and the surprising ways they show it.

Chimpanzees

Our closest living relatives share nearly 99% of our DNA, and it shows in their brainpower. Chimpanzees use tools, learn sign language, and even beat humans in certain memory games.

Researchers have observed them crafting spears for hunting and solving logic puzzles that stump people.

Chimpanzees use tools, learn sign language, and even beat humans in certain memory games. (file)

Bottlenose dolphins

Dolphins are social animals with a talent for teamwork. They use unique whistles to call each other by “name,” understand human gestures, and even recognise themselves in mirrors, a rare sign of self-awareness. Some have even been trained to solve complex problems and imitate human actions.

Elephants

With the largest brains of any land animal, elephants have shown incredible feats of memory, like recalling distant water sources after decades. They’re known to mourn their dead, use tools, and display empathy. Observing them interact often feels like watching an ancient wisdom at work.

Octopuses

These soft-bodied invertebrates have amazed scientists with their problem-solving skills. Octopuses can navigate mazes, unscrew lids, and even use coconut shells as mobile shelters. Some seem to “play” with objects, a behavior linked to higher intelligence.

Crows & Ravens

Members of the crow family have been called the smartest birds alive, and for good reason. Crows have been seen using sticks as tools, solving multi-step puzzles, and even recognising individual human faces. Ravens have demonstrated the ability to plan ahead and use teamwork to outsmart rivals.

Dogs

Certain breeds like the Border Collie can understand up to 200 words and follow complex instructions. Dogs pick up on human cues with an instinctive ease, making them not just loyal companions but surprisingly sharp learners.

Pigs have mastered mazes, joystick-operated video games. (Representational Image)

Pigs

Often underestimated, pigs have been proven to match three-year-old children in learning ability. They’ve mastered mazes, joystick-operated video games.

Goats

Goats have outperformed sheep in memory and object tracking tasks. They’re quick learners, especially when it comes to unlocking mechanisms or solving food puzzles. Studies have shown goats remember learned tasks months later. Bot bad for a farmyard animal!

Sea Lions

One sea lion named Ronan surprised scientists by keeping a beat to rhythmic sounds, a skill previously thought exclusive to vocal-mimicking animals like birds and humans. Sea lions have shown impressive long-term learning and problem-solving abilities in studies.