Nature’s Biggest Gentle Giant
If you’ve ever stood toe-to-toe with an elephant, it’s easy to feel intimidated. They’re massive, they have huge tusks, and they’re said to remember the little things—but they’re also friends to kind-hearted people, making them one of the most impressive animals around! Put your fears aside and join us as we go through some amazing facts.
Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash
1. They’re Pregnant for Years
Boy, we thought nine months was a lifetime. Elephants carry their young for 18-22 months before welcoming a calf into the world. They have the longest gestation period of any living mammal!
2. They Have Tusk Preferences
Much like right and left-handed people, elephants can be right or left-tusked. They might lean heavier on one side to perform basic tasks, like stripping bark from trees or helping them eat. Thankfully, they’ll never know the pain of sitting in a school desk as a lefty.
Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash
3. They’re Very Social
While it’s true that elephants can be aggressive, they’re also intelligent and social. They’re very affectionate with each other, forming lifelong bonds and supporting matriarchal herds. They also have complex relationships with humans; they can form bonds with people and even recognize their rescuers!
4. They Have Sensitive, But Thick, Skin
The next time someone tells you to thicken your skin, take cues from an elephant! Though sensitive, an elephant’s skin can grow over an inch thick in some places. Their wrinkles retain up to 10 times more water than smooth skin, trapping water and keeping them cool. Their sensitive skin can also detect the smallest disturbances, like insects.
5. They Can’t Jump
When was the last time you saw an elephant jump? Exactly—as the largest land mammal, these behemoths can’t actually complete the task! Young elephants might playfully lift their legs, but they won’t have the same flexibility when they age.
