Elephants are truly incredible animals. August 12 is World Elephant Day which means to help save elephants. What do you know about elephants? Here are some facts you may not know.
We know that elephants are large. But did you know that elephants often avoid eating a type of acacia tree (金合欢树), because it is home to ants and an elephant doesn't want to get the ants inside its trunk. Its trunk is full of sensitive nerve endings (敏感神经末梢).
Female elephants live in groups of about 15 animals. The oldest in the group is the leader. She decides not only when and where they move but also when they rest all the year. Male elephants leave the female groups between age 12 and 15. But they aren't loners. They live in all-male groups.
Asian elephants don't run. Running requires lifting all four feet at once. But elephants filmed in Thailand always kept at least two on the ground at all times.
Elephants have passed the mirror test. They recognize themselves in a mirror. According to tests, great apes (巨猿), and dolphins (海豚) also have this ability.
Elephants can get sunburned so they take care to protect themselves. "Elephants will throw sand on their backs and on their head to keep them from getting sunburned and to keep bugs off," said Tony Barthel, working at Smithsonian's National Zoo. How do elephants protect their young? Adult elephants will put them in sand and then they will stand over the little ones as they sleep.
Some farmers in Kenya protect their fields from elephants by lining the borders with beehives (蜂巢). Not only are their crops saved, but the farmers also get more money from honey.
