Elephants use urine as Yellow Pages

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Scottish researchers have determined Africa elephants leave trails of urine so relatives and friends can keep track of one another by scent.

Professor Richard Byrne of the University of St. Andrews led the study in Kenya, in which team members observed elephants' confusion when a trick was played on them, the Telegraph reported.

The group took urine samples of one group and then later put down samples as the group traveled, the report said.

The elephants "showed surprise" by reaching out with their trunks to investigate when they encountered urine from an individual who was walking behind them and could not possibly have urinated there, Byrne said.

"For most tourists visiting Africa, the least exciting thing about seeing elephants is when they stop to urinate," Byrne said. "Yet for the elephants themselves, those urine deposits help them keep constant track of up to 30 other individuals in their large and frequently changing family groups, a memory feat which we can only admire."