They are as good as us at many kinds of problem solving, and can grasp and communicate complex ideas. Killer whales have brains five times human size, and their ability to formulate plans is better than the dolphins', who they occasionally eat. Sperm whales, though not the largest animals, have the world's largest brains. Intelligence may be an important part of their struggle with large squid, their main food. Elephant brains are three times human size.
Elephants form matriarchal tribal societies and exhibit complex behavior.
Indian domestic elephants learn over 500 commands, and form voluntary mutual benefit relationships with their trainers, exchanging labor for baths. And they do have long memories. Apes are our 10 million year cousins. Chimps and gorillas can learn to use tools and to communicate in human sign languages at a retarded level. Chimps have one third, and gorillas one half, human brainsize.