Elephants are impressive creatures that many people admire from afar. They are big but gentle, strong yet calm, and have fascinated humans for thousands of years. Despite our long history of observing them, scientists are still finding out new and surprising details about these animals. Underneath their tough, wrinkled skin lies a creature with rich emotions, complex communication skills, and a remarkable intellect. In many ways, elephants share similarities with humans, but they are also unique in their own right. To highlight how amazing these gentle giants are, World Animal Protection, an organization focused on animal welfare, has compiled some surprising facts about them.
One interesting finding is that wild elephants may require very little sleep. A study conducted in 2017 tracked two matriarchs in Botswana and revealed they only slept around two hours each day, marking the lowest sleep duration recorded for any mammal. They can even remain awake for up to two days when they sense danger.
Another surprising detail is that elephants have a fear of bees and even create a special alarm call to alert their herd. It may seem surprising that such a large animal is scared of something so small, but elephants need to be cautious. Bees target sensitive areas like the trunk and around the eyes, which can cause discomfort. When they hear buzzing, elephants produce a specific rumbling sound to warn others. Other elephants recognize this sound and often retreat, even if they haven’t seen the bees themselves. Research shows they also have different calls for human threats, indicating that elephants may have distinct sounds for various dangers. This fear of bees has been used in conservation efforts; in some African regions, farmers use beehive fences to keep elephants away from their crops, allowing both humans and elephants to coexist peacefully.
Young elephants also find comfort in sucking their trunks, similar to how babies suck their thumbs. This behavior comes from a natural reflex related to nursing and is commonly seen in young calves as they learn to control their trunks, which are made up of over 50,000 muscles. Even adult elephants may suck their trunks when feeling anxious, showing a soft side to their character.
Elephants display mourning behaviors for their lost companions, much like humans do. When a member of their herd dies, they gather around the body, using their trunks to touch and smell it, and may stand in silence for hours. In 2013, researchers observed elephants from three families in Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve come to pay their respects to an elderly matriarch named Queen Victoria after she died. Her son nudged her gently with his tusks, suggesting a deep connection. In another case, relatives of a female named Eleanor returned to her body repeatedly for nearly a week, exhibiting behaviors that indicate significant emotional awareness. Elephants form strong bonds with their families; calves often stay close to another elephant, and adults can recognize calls of relatives they haven’t seen in over ten years.
What do you think about these incredible facts about elephants?
Sources:
Source: Bored Panda, by Eglė Tenikytė