11 Unique Facts About Elephants That Will Blow Your Mind!

Their Ears Are Not Just for Hearing

Elephants’ large ears aren’t just for listening to the sounds of the savannah. The elephant’s ears are used for several activities such as thermoregulation by flapping the ears which in turns help cool the blood supply and lower body temperature, for communications by flapping the ears, hearing and other body languages such as when elephants want to display intimidation, dominance and listening.

An Elephant’s Trunk Is a Multi-Tool

Most of the daily activities of an elephant are done by its nose. Elephants use their trunks to breathe, smell, drink, feeding grabbing, trumpeting and even give themselves a good scratch! Some elephants can pick up tiny objects, like a peanut, and with the same trunk, they can uproot an entire tree. Because of this, it’s believed that an elephant can not live without it’s trunk.

They’re Incredible Memory Masters

In Africa belief and saying that “an elephant never forgets” This is more than just a saying. Elephants have remarkable memory, which helps them remember things like water sources, the best routes to travel, and even other elephants they’ve met over the years. They have a keen ability to remember who chased them, bullied them or treated them nicely even after 10 years and they will surely be happy to return the favor.

Elephants are emotional animals.

Yes, elephants have been seen exhibiting their emotional weaknesses by shedding tears, especially when they’re grieving or feeling extremely emotional. They are known to share some powerfully strong social bonds, and when they lose a member of their herd, it can be a deeply moving experience for them. So, next time you see an elephant, know that they’re more than just big creatures – they have big feelings too!

Their Tusks Are Like Human Fingerprints

However much the elephant’s’ tusks look the same, they aren’t for decoration. They are unique to each elephant, much like how human fingerprints are. These tusks grow throughout an elephant’s life-span, and they are used for various tasks, such as digging for water, stripping bark from trees, and even protecting themselves.

The elephant’s tusk is undoubtedly the most useful body part of an elephant as it aids is several daily routines ranging from feeding, lifting materials, digging, social displays and defense among others.

They’re All About Family

Unlike humans, elephants live in tight-knit family groups led by a matriarch which is the oldest female in the herd. The family structure is incredibly strong, and the older elephants teach the younglings survival, social, feeding and more skills. This means elephants can have wisdom passed down for generations, think of it like how your mother teaches you basic life skills to survive.

They Love to Play!

Despite their size, elephants are very playful creatures. They enjoy splashing around in water, playing with other elephants, and even playing with objects like logs or rocks. If you’ve ever watched elephants in Tanzania’s national parks, you might have seen them having fun while bathing or just goofing around in the mud. It’s their version of a spa day!

They Can Communicate Over Long Distances

Elephants display significant variations of vocalizations like trumpeting, rumblings- a deep infrasonic rumble sound used significantly to signal departures. This sound is strictly made by a male elephant, and even infrasound – sounds below the human hearing range, to communicate with each other. These sounds can travel for kilometers, allowing elephants to stay in touch with others far away from their vicinity.