What Do Elephants Do
“They can swim and cross rivers without any problem,” Surendra Varma, senior scientist at the Bangalore-based Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, said. However, he noted that since most live in forested or mountainous areas, this skill isn’t really displayed to the extent it is in these islands. It’s surreal to swim with an elephant, especially in tropical blue water. I remember thinking, “Wow, this is crazy that I’m here witnessing this.” Often, Rajan was in shallower areas. But I really hoped to get a photo of him swimming weightlessly in deeper water, his legs kicking freely, in doggy paddle motion. It all came down to whatever mood Rajan was in.
Calves will suck water into their trunks and spray each other playfully. Elephants also love to cool themselves by having a mud bath. They will scoop wet soil from the bottom of a lake or the river and spray it on to their body to get respite from heat. Despite being that heavy, elephants can swim. Actually, all species of elephants are great swimmers.
In fact, you’re going to want to be all ears (ha!), because while some of these elephant jokes may be corny, that’s what makes them so great. Everyone from kids to siblings, to crushes to grandparents will love them. Elephants come to humans for help or even to sympathise. When conservationist Lawrence Anthony passed away, two herds of elephants travelled 12 miles to his home.
Six elephants drowned in Thailand’s national park. Raging waters swept a baby elephant, and others drowned trying to save it. Yes, elephants can swim underwater for short distances. They are able to hold their breath for up to two minutes while diving fully underwater.
Males who have left the family unit will either live temporarily with other males, or may just be alone for the rest of their lives. Even after pursuing and selecting a female mate, a male elephant will then resume his predominantly nomadic and solitary life, to roam alone. The size of incredible elephant swims in deep water the herd will depend entirely on the size of the family and the terrain they have chosen to live on.
If you run, the elephant will be more likely to chase you. The sea faring elephants of the Andamans and Sri Lanka are very well known. Legends like the elephant named Rajan, of the Andamans, was featured in a Hollywood movie too. However, I had not been lucky enough to see one actually swim, until this March, in Kaziranga, when I was a first hand witness to that. He felt so comfortable with Nazroo and didn’t want to be far from him.
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.
For us humans, this will be comparable to a “doggy swim” type of stroke rather than a clean human breaststroke. Enjoy and experience African elephants from a safe distance with this South African elephant conservation tour.
Elephants’ ears are perfectly designed to keep them cool. They’re covered with a fine network of blood vessels that allows heat to dissipate when temperatures rise. Jonathan simultaneously completed degrees from Brooks Institute of Photography and Virginia Tech in commercial photography and mass communications, respectively. His work has won numerous awards including the prestigious PDN and Communication Arts photography annual competitions.