Idea #546 – Observing the watered ceremonial of the African elephant
The African elephant (Loxodonta Africana) is a gigantic herbivore characterized by its trunk, its defenses carried as much by the male as by the female, and its wide ears bigger than those of his cousin the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus). Contrary to this last, hits back is concave and his head has no bumps. The elephant feeds on numerous types of vegetables: grass, sheets, bark … He needs from 150 to 300 kg of food a day, as well as to drink often, up to 200 liters of water in one day, even if he can take place it for a few days.
The elephant uses its trunk, a nasal organ arisen from the fusion of the upper lip and the nose, to inhale, drink by bringing to its mouth the water which he inhaled in his trunk, take a shower, to seize with branches or with objects, to caress his congeners, or to impress his rivals. The skin of the elephant remains fragile. He offers itself mud baths, capital, because they confer on the elephants a protection against ultraviolet rays, external parasites and dehydration. To protect itself, the elephants reproduce a determining cyclic rite, scratching itself against trees, bathing, recovering of mud or dust. We followed, very closely, a part of this ceremonial.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
National Parc of Etosha, Namibia