Asian elephant who talks "Koshik"

Elephants are known for their horns, their size, and for being a bit scared of mice.

But now, one Korean beast has seemingly learned how to talk. Korean is considered one of the hardest languages in the world to master, but an elephant in a South Korean zoo is making a good start.

Koshik, a 22-year-old Asian elephant has stunned experts and his keepers at Everland Zoo near Seoul by imitating human speech. Koshik can say the Korean words for "hello," "sit down," "no," "lie down" and "good." His trainer, Kim Jong Gap, first started to realize Koshik was mimicking him several years ago.

Koshik was born in captivity in 1990 and was transferred to Everland Zoo a few years later. From the age of 5 to 12 there were no other elephants with Koshik at the zoo, and his only interaction was with humans. The researchers believe Koshik may have learned certain words out of necessity "to cement social bonds."

Koshik is expected to draw quite a crowd when the public sees him in the spring after construction at the zoo is completed.

News source: CNN, London News