How Do Elephants Use Their Trunks



You can meet up with the Render Loyalty team and Kristen Davis, a DSWT brand ambassador. Eventually the animal was guided to shore, where it was released into the care of wildlife officials, according to the Navy's website. The lagoon lies in the middle of an animal sanctuary and sits between two stretches of jungle the elephant may have been trying to pass. It took nearly 12 hours to save the endangered animal that had been stranded 10 miles from the shore. The single best thing people can do to reduce this abuse is to never patronize a facility that promotes elephant rides or performances of any kind.

After bathing, they use their trunks to dust themselves with dirt and mud to protect their skin from sun exposure. African elephants aren’t only the largest land mammals in the world, they also have the longest gestation period of any land animal—22 months! A newborn elephant can weigh up to 260 pounds, and this extra development time is thought to increase their ability to survive on their own from a young age. Since the turn of the century, Sri Lankan elephant populations have fallen by almost 65 percent thanks to an increase in deforestation on the island. Currently, the elephants are protected under Sri Lankan law, where killing one results in steep penalties. The video shows multiple navy officials swimming from a ship in scuba gear with ropes, which they tied around the elephant.

The pachyderm’s massive body, very surprisingly, gives them enough buoyancy to float easily. They swim completely submerged, with their head above the water and their mouths below, and use all four legs to paddle. The biggest advantage that elephants have above all other mammals is their trunk. A very versatile proboscis, they use their trunk like a snorkel.

It was not a small pond but a big lake. We were wondering as to what he was up to. Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning. In 1883, bringing elephants over from the mainland to help with timber extraction. Not only was the elephant video adorable, but my mental image of a sloth trying to jump was quite entertaining as well.

On the day I took this photo, I was with him on one of his longer swims and I used a weight belt to freedive down to get the angle I wanted. He’d totally immerse himself and use his trunk like a snorkel, which was so cool. Every morning, Rajan would go into the jungle or walk down to the beach. He went swimming whenever he felt like it. He seemed to have adapted to swimming in salt water and even to enjoy it.

African Elephant baby calf crossing with family, Mara river, Serengeti national park, Tanzania. The elephant’s trunk is an extension of its upper lip. As we entered the park, we saw this elephant coming down towards the water. Seemed like a young male, without the well grown tusks, generally referred to as a Makhna. It was quite warm and we thought he was coming down for a drink.

No, because the buoyant force on the elephant would be the same in both cases. Two of a herd of bachelor elephants swimming across the Chobe River towards Sedudu/ northern Botswana, using their trunks as snorkels. From the image capture details, it looks like he took around 5 minutes to swim across the lake. It is quite a big lake and this timing looks very impressive.

Baby elephant swimming and playing in the water is a sight that has to cheer you up. In conclusion, elephants are great swimmers and their abilities should not be underestimated. Elephants typically swim for short distances though, but they are capable of swimming for long periods of time or longer distances if necessary. As mentioned, however, keep its strong trunk raised above the water and use it as a sort of snorkel to allow it to breathe even while the rest of its body remains in the water. Hailey Pruett is a freelance content writer, editor, and lifelong animal lover living in Tennessee with their spoiled cat, grumpy leopard gecko, and loving partner. Their favorite animals are lizards, turtles, snakes, and frogs.

It is clear that they are not limited by their size and can use their abilities to adapt to their environment. In addition to being hunted, elephants are also at risk of being caught in fishing nets and other fishing gear. This can lead to them drowning or being injured. Elephants typically swim elephant using somewhat of a breaststroke.

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