A great man once said one of the best quotes about animals: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.”
Its author was the famous Mahatma Gandhi.
People who change the world are able to see clarity where others see only darkness. And the recognition, love and respect for the animal world is proof of this. The planet is full of fantastic species of animals and plants.
Mother Nature shows us her perfection in every corner. But among animals, there are those that stand out for their intelligence. These remarkable specimens demonstrate unique cognitive and strategic abilities.
They explore, draw conclusions, develop plans, maps. In addition to intelligence, they demonstrate emotional closeness, which makes them truly remarkable creatures.
Here are the 10 smartest animals in the world.
Crow
This list of the smartest animals in the world starts with this curious species that has gained a certain bad reputation due to its mystical image thanks to the film industry. The reality is that crows are more intelligent than all birds.
It is the common raven (Corvus corax) that is the most brilliant of all: they have an excellent memory, they are skilled strategists and, most impressively, they form very strong emotional bonds with their relatives. They care for their family members throughout their lives and are capable of solving many problems.
Octopus
The octopus is one of the most intelligent species in the sea. With its tentacles, it explores, senses, recognizes textures, remembers, and identifies. According to scientists, it is one of the smartest invertebrates in the world.
The octopus brain is very complex and has a high ability to learn in any environment. On YouTube, you can easily find videos of octopuses going through complex mazes and tests.
Pigeon
The pigeon is often perceived as a pest, a kind of plague, a rat with wings. However, scientists have discovered that these birds have a phenomenal ability to remember images and faces, moreover, they can recognize themselves in front of a mirror and distinguish colors.
Pigeons are also able to navigate complex routes. Thanks to this ability, they have come to be used to transmit messages.
Squirrel
This friendly and beautiful rodent has an excellent memory and is also capable of performing tricks and using cunning strategies to obtain food.
Squirrels have learned to take good care of themselves and prepare for difficult times. They collect, select, store and even standardize depending on atmospheric conditions.
Pig
Pigs are also one of the smartest animals. They can survive in any environment, no matter how cold or hot it is. They are smart, experienced and quite affectionate. In fact, little by little they are starting to become pets, like a dog or a cat.
If you've seen the movie Babe, you probably remember this little pig who can lead a flock of sheep. Do you think that's fantasy? No! If they're trained to do a job, they do it perfectly.
Elephant
Although this phrase is not so popular in Russia, in many European countries you can often hear the expression "to have a memory like an elephant". Indeed, these magnificent animals remember routes, images, events that happened to them or their herd throughout their lives, everyday actions that remain imprinted in their magnificent memory.
In addition to this, they clean their food to avoid catching diseases, use sticks and stones as tools and, most amazingly, they protect their children as well as the children of the group they are a part of.
Without a doubt, they stand out among the most intelligent animals in the world.
Orangutan
And another classic among the smartest animals is the cunning orangutan, one of the wisest monkeys in nature.
They form large communities and care for each other by communicating, establishing rules and hierarchies. They are a highly cognitively intelligent species that scientists are learning new things about every day.
Dolphin
It couldn't be missing from this list of the smartest animals in the world. They are considered the smartest sea animals in existence. They are social, group-based, problem-solving, have complex and sophisticated language, use tools, and are emotionally intelligent. They are as beautiful as they are incredible.
Horse
Another animal that stands out for its intelligence is the horse. Among its qualities, its amazing memory stands out.
They are able to remember their riders and coaches, and cope with high doses of stress.
A horse's memory also includes things like experiences and places the animal has been able to travel through, even if a long time has passed.
Dog
And we conclude this list of the smartest animals with man’s best friend – the charming dog.
The intelligence of dogs depends largely on their breed. Large breeds are considered to be more cunning than small ones.
However, they are all smart, able to easily acquire new skills and learn to follow instructions. And another big advantage is the ease of interaction with humans.
It is not for nothing that dogs are the most beloved pets in the world. They form an emotional bond with their owners, making them another member of the family.
Earlier we wrote about why a dog doesn’t obey.
