Nature & Environment

Pigs are as intelligent as chimpanzees

By T.K. Randall
June 12, 2015

Image: Pig
Credit: Steven Lek / (PD) Despite being viewed as nothing more than a meat source most of the time, pigs are now believed to be one of the most intelligent animals on the planet.

In a new study published recently in the International Journal of Comparative Psychology, researchers determined that pigs are far more clever than we had been giving them credit for.

"We have shown that pigs share a number of cognitive capacities with other highly intelligent species such as dogs, chimpanzees, elephants, dolphins, and even humans," said co-author Lori Marino.

The research revealed that pigs possess extremely good long-term memories, are capable of learning and utilizing a symbolic language and are excellent at solving mazes.Like other intelligent animals pigs also live in complex social communities and work well together.

During the study some pigs were even found to be able to use a mirror to find hidden food and could use a joystick to move a cursor around on a computer screen.

Sadly however, despite their cognitive abilities, most pigs these days are born in to a life that sees them exist solely to be slaughtered for their meat after a brief and cramped existence.

"There is good scientific evidence to suggest we need to rethink our overall relationship to them," said Marino.

Source: Discovery News

Tags: Pig, Chimp, Dog