This 4000-kg animal can talk like humans

Let’s take a look at some animals who’ve managed to blur the line between human and animal communication in the most unexpected ways.

Parrots

No surprise here — parrots top the list. African Grey Parrots, in particular, are famous for their talking abilities. They’re not just repeating sounds; they’re often responding to cues, showing that they understand more than we give them credit for.

Orcas

Back in 2018, a female orca named Wikie stunned scientists in France when she started mimicking human words like “hello” and even her trainer’s name, “Amy”, according to the Proceedings of the Royal Society. She wasn’t just making random noises — she was copying the exact pitch and rhythm.

Orcas don’t have vocal cords like us, so they improvise using their blowholes. It’s impressive, and just a little bit spooky.

Beluga whales

Belugas are sometimes called the “canaries of the sea” because they naturally make a wide range of sounds. But one whale, Noc, took it further — mimicking human voices so well that his trainers initially thought someone was playing a prank, according to New Scientist.

This happened at a US Navy facility, and recordings of his voice are still studied today.

Elephants

You wouldn’t expect an elephant to talk — they’re not exactly built for speech. But Koshik, an Asian elephant in South Korea, figured out a way. He stuck his trunk inside his mouth to shape sounds and ended up saying Korean words that were clear enough for people to understand. It’s an amazing example of adaptability and vocal control that a 4000 kg animal could even do so!

Belugas are sometimes called the “canaries of the sea” because they naturally make a wide range of sounds (Source: Freepik)

Orangutans

In a study at the Indianapolis Zoo, an orangutan named Rocky showed he could imitate human-like sounds.

Scientists were thrilled — it meant that the ability to mimic speech might go back further in our evolutionary tree than we thought. It’s not fluent conversation, of course, but it’s a strong hint that we’re not the only primates capable of vocal learning.

Seals

Hoover, a harbour seal from Maine, became famous in the 1980s for mimicking human phrases with a strong New England accent. “Hello there!” he’d say — and he sounded just like a local fisherman. Raised by humans from a young age, Hoover clearly picked up more than just swimming skills.

Crows

Crows are already known for their clever problem-solving, but a crow in Maharashtra made waves online for mimicking words like “Mummy” and “Papa.” It wasn’t an isolated case either — several crows have been known to imitate human speech, especially if they’ve spent time around people.

All of this points to a fascinating truth: communication isn’t just a human trait. Across the animal kingdom, there are species that — given the right environment and enough exposure — can bridge the gap between our worlds with sound. It’s a reminder that language might not be as exclusive as we once thought.