The Controversy Surrounding Self-Domestication of Elephants

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that elephants may have self-domesticated themselves, making them the only species next to humans and possibly bonobo apes to have done so. The study argues that elephants have common traits with humans and bonobos, such as reduced aggression, increased prosociality, and complex vocal behavior. However, some experts have criticized the study, stating that the genetic argument presented is weak and that the concept of self-domestication is unnecessary to understand the evolution of social behavior.