From Nigel Wake
We are told that Karen McComb and colleagues have been playing back the calls
of long-dead elephants, to those that are still alive and are likely to remember
the deceased and recognise their calls—which they apparently did
(15 July, p 14).
We know that elephants are highly social animals and have a long period of
grieving when a family member dies (perhaps the longest of all animals). To
reawaken an elephant’s memory of the dead family member could cause further
unnecessary grieving. But, more importantly, it might well have started a new
myth in elephant circles about spiritualism and ghosts—something that had
not, as far as we know, troubled them for millions of years.
Maidenhead, Berkshire
