I love this elephant video! Thanks for sharing it. I knew about it but didn't try to find it for my post.I agree many other species are probably capable of abstract thought. Some day we may be able to have philosophical discussions with an ape or an elephant. I wonder if Koko believes in God?

Richard Dawkins has seen this first hand and has commented that the mahout is actually manipulating the elephants ear to paint lines. He says it is not the elephant thinking the painting rather just training from the mahout and goes on to say the elephants keep repeating the same picture every time. I wish it weren't so but I abide by Dawkins findings.

@buzz13 I see. Chimps have been know to change designs and patterns though. It still doesn't give us any information on if animals can think philosophically though.

I agree we should protect all from our predations. It has not always been so. We dominate this place. Lately we are easily capable of immense destruction. Mostly, I think we must protect ourselves from ourselves.

I’m assuming that when you used the term “great ape” you intended to indicate that he is easy to spot in a crowd, not that there is any greatness of character or intellect in the Bully in Chief.

@ArturoS No, He looks like a shaved Orangutan.

Thanks for the wonderful interpretation @ArturoS. Regardless, I was referring strictly to the last question posed by @FrankB38 in regards to gmo humans populating Mars. Our species is human, but without (normal, biological) humans humanity is dead, but the concept can continue.