Wild Asian elephants in India have been seen using branches to swat flies, while elephants in a naturalistic captive setting modified branches that were too long or bushy before using them — evidence that elephants can both use and manufacture simple tools

Elephants don't just use branches to swat flies—they reshape them first, suggesting a level of problem-solving that blurs the line between instinct and innovation. The post Wild Asian elephants in India have been seen using branches to swat flies, while elephants in a naturalistic captive setting modified branches that were too long or bushy before using them — evidence that elephants can both use…