Full Breakdown
Giraffes Show Early Form of Numerical Reasoning in New Study
7/13/2026, 8:11:48 PM
Core Findings
A recent experiment led by Iker Loidi, a graduate student in clinical psychology and psychobiology at the University of Barcelona, demonstrated that two of four tested giraffes could combine visible quantities to choose the larger total, a skill comparable to basic addition.
Study Design and Participants
The test presented each giraffe with two yellow containers holding 2 and 3 carrot pieces, respectively, and a green container with 2 pieces. After hiding the yellow containers, the researcher added the green carrots to one yellow container, requiring the animal to mentally sum the amounts. Giraffe Nuru correctly selected the container now holding 4 pieces, and male Njano performed similarly. The other two giraffes succeeded only when the correct container was the last one touched by the researcher, suggesting possible cueing.
Interpretation and Open Questions
Loidi suggests the ability reflects a “perceptive basis for addition,” offering insight into how quantitative cognition may have evolved. However, researchers acknowledge uncertainty about why performance varied; individual differences or prior zoo training may play roles.
Verbatim Quotes
- “0:52 In order to make the right decision, Nuru had to "manipulate those quantities mentally," holding each one in her mind, adding the relevant amounts together, and understanding that 2+2 is greater than 3, Loidi says.” — Iker Loidi.
- “it's not real addition,” — Iker Loidi.
- “It's more like the perceptive basis for addition” — Iker Loidi.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The study reports that two giraffes passed the task while the other two relied on potential experimenter cues, and researchers have not determined whether the disparity stems from innate numerical ability, learned behavior, or experimental design factors.
