Elephants are more than just the gentle giants of the animal kingdom. They are intelligent, emotional, and vital to the ecosystem. While their enormous size and iconic tusks make them instantly recognisable, there is so much more to these incredible mammals that many would not know of. In this feature, uncover ten fascinating facts about elephants that reveal their hidden talents, deep social bonds, and surprising skills.
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Photographed By Jaco Joubert
Elephants Can Hear with Their Feet
Elephants pick up on seismic vibrations (the shaking or trembling of the earth’s surface) through the ground using sensitive nerve endings in their feet and trunk tips, helping them sense distant movement and calls.
Elephant Ears Help Regulate Their Body Temperature
An elephant's large ears act like radiators. Blood flows through the ear's many veins and flapping them helps cool the elephant down in humid conditions.
Elephants Mourn Their Dead
Elephants have been observed touching, standing vigil, and even returning to the bones of deceased herd members, showing signs of grief and memory. They do this by cautiously extending their trunks and gently touching the body of the deceased.
Photographed By Judy Lehmberg
They Are Excellent Swimmers
Despite their size, elephants are great swimmers. Although they are great swimmers, they would rather use their trunks as snorkels and cross rivers and lakes with ease while walking through them, being fully submerged.
Elephant Calves Suck Their Trunks
Just like human babies suck their thumbs, young elephants often suck their trunks for comfort as they learn to use them. Due to baby elephants not having full control over their trunks, they must learn how to use them by exploring the objects and environment around them and touching fellow members of the herd.
Their Trunks Have Over 40,000 Muscles
An elephant's trunk is a complex tool with incredible skill. Their trunks are used for breathing, smelling, drinking, trumpeting, and even picking up tiny and very large objects.
Photographed By Jaco Joubert