Intelligence

Several researches on an elephants brain reveal that they are the most intelligent mammals on earth. They possess the largest brain weighing 5 kg, much more than the brain of any other land animal. Their intelligence is often associated to the intricate folds in their brain, quite similar to whales. They are empathic and show grief, humor, compassion, co-operation, playfulness and phenomenal learning abilities. They have a more developed hippocampus that enables them to keep track of multiple objects in 3D space. These softhearted mammals possess an altruistic nature. They have rescued trapped dogs by putting their life at risk! Is not it impressive!

Why Elephants Have A Wrinkled Skin?

Have you ever thought why elephants have a wrinkled skin? It serves for great purposes. This wrinkled skin enables them to regulate their temperature and keep its humidity. Experts assert that wrinkled skin retains 5-10 times more water as compared to a smooth skin. The wrinkled skin also loses more heat that helps the animal in staying cool. Furthermore, their ears have a complex network of blood vessels that plays a crucial role in regulating their body temperature. Blood is circulated through their years to cool them down in hot and humid climates. Despite huge ears, they have poor sense of hearing.

Cultural Significance

Elephants exercise strong linkage with various cultures. Asians regard them as extremely intelligent animals for their wisdom and learning tendencies. They are altruistic and show deep empathy towards other creatures. They elicit appropriate response i.e. they laugh when they are happy, even grieve, and mourn at the death of their beloved! These insightful creatures can be good role models on how to live in harmony!

Trunk

The most noticeable physical feature that an elephant possesses is its elongated trunk as you can see in elephants pictures. An elephant's trunk is actually the fusion of nose and the upper lip. The trunk is composed 0f 40,000 muscles and can extend up to as much as 8 feet! It serves for a variety of purpose including feeding, drinking, defending, interacting with others and at times, as a sensory organ.

Life Expectancy And Conservation Status

An elephant may live as long as 60 - 70 years. Despite their long life span, placidness and easy go nature, it saddens me to say that these incredible and empathic creatures are at the verge of extinction. Unfortunately, all the species of elephants are being enlisted in the list of endangered animals. Various reasons such as elephants habitats destruction, rainforests depletion, physical diseases, global warming and over exploitation of the natural resources are some of the major reasons for their declining number. We need to understand that these marvelous creatures are no different to human beings. They are driven by emotions; they hurt like us, mourn like us and heal like us. Saving these animals would require strong inter-species empathy. That's how we can preserve these emotional beings!