Discovering the Fascinating World of Elephants

Elephants, the largest land mammals, belong to the Elephantidae family. The recognized species include the African Bush Elephant, African Forest Elephant, and Asian Elephant. Elephantidae is the only surviving branch of Proboscidea, which includes extinct members like mastodons and straight-tusked elephants. African elephants have large ears and a concave back, while Asian elephants have smaller ears and a convex or flat back. Common features include a long trunk, large tusks, prominent ear flaps, four sturdy legs, and thick but sensitive skin. The trunk serves various purposes, including breathing, bringing food and water to the mouth, and grasping objects. The tusks, evolved from canine teeth, are used for self-defense, clearing obstacles, and digging. Large ears help regulate body temperature and aid communication. Their robust legs support heavy loads, resembling sturdy pillars.

Elephants are widely distributed across Africa (excluding the Sahara), South Asia, and Southeast Asia, adapting to diverse habitats like grasslands, forests, deserts, and swamps. They are herbivores, congregating near water sources. As keystone species, elephants significantly impact the surrounding landscape. Other animals typically keep a distance, except for predators like lions, tigers, hyenas, and wild dogs, which often target young elephants. Elephants form hierarchical social structures, with family groups linking to communicate. Females usually live in family units, including a matriarch and her offspring or related females. These groups lack adult males and are led by the oldest female in a matriarchal system.

Exploring Evolution and Extinct Relatives

Over 180 extinct members and three major evolutionary radiations within the Proboscidea order have been identified by scientists. The early proboscideans, exemplified by genera like Eritherium and Phosphatherium in the late Paleocene, marked the first radiation event. The Eocene witnessed the emergence of genera such as Numidotherium, Moeritherium, and Barytherium in Africa. These relatively small aquatic mammals were succeeded by later genera like Phiomia and Palaeomastodon, inhabiting wooded areas and open forests. Proboscidean diversity declined in the Oligocene. Noteworthy from this period is Eritreum melakeghebrekristosi from the Horn of Africa, possibly the ancestor of many later species. The second diversification occurred in the early Miocene, introducing gomphotheres, whose likely ancestors included Eritreum, spreading across continents except Australia and Antarctica. Members of this group included Gomphotherium and Platybelodon. The third evolutionary radiation began in the late Miocene, leading to the appearance of elephantids, gradually replacing gomphotheres. The species Primelephas gomphotheroides from Africa gave rise to the genera Loxodonta, Mammuthus, and Elephas. Loxodonta branched in the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, while Mammuthus and Elephas diverged later in the early Pliocene. Loxodonta remained in Africa, while Mammuthus and Elephas migrated to Afro-Eurasia and eventually reached North America. Simultaneously, stegodontids (another proboscidean group with roots in gomphotheres) spread across Asia, reaching India, China, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Mammutids continued to evolve into new species, including the famous spiral-tusked mastodons. Interspecies mating seemed common among elephantids, leading in some cases to species with three-way genetic contributions from ancestors, such as Palaeoloxodon antiquus. At the end of the Pleistocene, most proboscidean species went extinct during the fourth Ice Age mass extinction event, which killed 50% of all mammal genera weighing over 5 kg worldwide.

Classifying the Elephant Family

Elephants belong to the Elephantidae family, the only remaining family in the Proboscidea order under the Afrotheria superorder. Their closest relatives include the Sirenia (dugongs and manatees) and the Hyracoidea, all falling under the Paenungulata clade within the Afrotheria superorder. Elephants and the Sirenia are grouped together as the Tethytheria clade.

The Significance of Elephant Trunks

The elephant trunk is a remarkable fusion of the upper lip and nose. As calves, the upper lip and trunk are initially separate, but as elephants grow, the trunk becomes a vital and versatile part of their anatomy. Comprising 150,000 individual muscles, the trunk has no bones and minimal fat content. These muscles consist of surface and internal types, with surface muscles divided into upper, lower, and lateral muscles; internal muscles are categorized into transverse and radiating muscles. The trunk muscles attach to the bone openings in the skull. The nasal septum is made up of tiny muscle units distributed horizontally between the two nostrils. Cartilage divides the nostrils at the base. The trunk is considered a hydrostatic muscle (similar to the tongue), allowing flexible movement through coordinated muscle contractions. A unique nerve structure, formed from nerves in the upper jaw and face, runs along both sides of the trunk.

Size Matters: Elephant Dimensions

Elephants, the largest land animals, exhibit considerable size variations among species. African elephants, especially males, can reach shoulder heights of 304–336 cm, weighing 5.2–6.9 tons, while females stand at 247–273 cm and weigh 2.6–3.5 tons. Asian elephant males have shoulder heights ranging from 261–289 cm and weigh about 3.5–4.6 tons, whereas females stand at 228–252 cm and weigh 2.3–3.1 tons. The forest elephant, the smallest of the species, has males standing at 209–231 cm with a weight of 1.7–2.3 tons. African forest elephants show a 23% height difference between males and females, while Asian elephant males are only about 15% taller than females.

Territorial Habits: Elephant Living Spaces

On a daily basis, elephants spend approximately 16 hours foraging and only sleep for about 3 to 5 hours. Adult elephants sleep standing up, while calves occasionally lie down. Despite their imposing size, elephants are skilled swimmers and can even swim in the sea. Their preferred time of day is during mud baths, which shield them from scorching sunlight and ward off bothersome insects. Surprisingly, elephants do not defend their own territories. Instead, they prefer integration, living alongside herds where the lead elephant, typically the oldest female, takes on the role of the leader. She guides the herd to water and food sources. Following her are younger elephants, both males and females. Elephants live together in herds for many years, forming strong bonds and offering mutual care. While some younger elephants may temporarily leave the herd, they maintain close connections and can quickly rejoin. Adolescent male elephants (around 12 years old) may live independently or with other male elephants. The composition of elephant herds can change, and when families come together, they form herds with hundreds of members. Elephants communicate through touch, smell, trumpet calls, and ear movements. The resonant trumpeting of elephants carries over great distances, serving as signals for herd cohesion.

The size of an elephant's significance lies in its complete development, making it safe from all carnivorous animals, except humans. To sustain its magnificent body, it requires a substantial amount of food. A mature elephant consumes about 150 kg (300 lb) of grass, small branches, leaves, fruits, and more every day. Such food needs thorough chewing. Elephants have molars at the back of their mouths, the strongest point for their teeth, but they wear down over time. When the last set of molars wears out, around the age of 55, the elephant weakens due to insufficient food and dies more from hunger than illness.

Elephants use their trunks to grasp and bring food to their mouths. Their primary diet includes grass and other ground vegetation. Elephants employ their trunks to pull down leaves, tree trunks, and branches from high places. When food is scarce, elephants use their tusks to topple trees. When thirsty, they gather at riverbanks or waterholes, even using their trunks to dig deep for water. Elephants drink water by sucking it into their trunks and spraying it into their mouths. They consume 160-300 liters of water daily and also spray water on their backs to cool their skin.

Every day, an adult elephant excretes waste heavier than the weight of a child. Elephant dung contains plant seeds that germinate into new plants to replace those they consumed or knocked down. In some countries where elephants are raised, research is underway to process elephant dung into paper, as it is relatively clean and odorless due to their herbivorous diet and water consumption.

They consume nearly 1% of their body weight daily: These magnificent creatures absorb an amount of food equivalent to about 1% of their body weight every day. For instance, if an elephant weighs up to six tons, its daily food consumption will reach 60 kg of dry food without the need for additional water content.

Elephants are not heavy sleepers. They cover dozens of kilometers each day in search of a substantial amount of food necessary to sustain life for their massive bodies. Their trunks are not only used to grasp food but also to touch, smell, breathe, and produce sounds.

Their trunks are composed of over 40,000 muscles and tendons, making their trunk movements highly precise. This is why elephants can pick up small objects like a coin from the ground.

Elephants play a crucial role in shaping ecosystems in various ways, earning them the title of 'ecosystem engineers.'

For example, Borneo pygmy elephants, the smallest elephant species, act as saviors for the forest ecosystems in Borneo. They play a vital role in ensuring the health of the ecosystem by acting as seed dispersers within their range. Simultaneously, they help reinforce the necessary green cover for all forms of life.

Similar to humans, elephants can sense emotions. In fact, researchers have noted that their reaction to death is one of the most intriguing aspects of elephants. Elephants almost always show profound concern for their deceased companions, even years after their passing. Besides humans, elephants are the only creatures with a diverse range of nerve cells in their brains, responsible for their abilities such as empathy, self-awareness, and social communication.

They are silent creatures, speaking less but displaying emotions when given time to mourn their fallen herd members, often covering the deceased with grass or soil. These large animals have shown a fear of ants and bees, revealing that despite their size, elephants are inherently gentle.

Elephants dislike being ridden. While they are large and robust, it doesn't mean they don't experience fatigue and pain. Elephants forced into riding often work for long hours in hot weather, leading to exhaustion. In some parts of Asia, elephant riding is a common activity to attract tourists, causing some elephants to even die from overwork. The saddles can also cause painful swelling on their backs.

Riding on the back of an elephant poses a significant issue for the spine of these animals, leading to paralysis over time. Phajaan (a torturous process) is the local term for the process of taming an elephant. Young elephants are hunted and captured from their mothers. After being separated from the herd, these young elephants are taken to a remote location, tied up, and beaten.

Trainers pull elephants with a truck around a tree to teach obedience. If the elephant doesn't comply, it faces punishment, sometimes even being pierced with metal hooks or nails.

Another common form of attracting tourists is training elephants to paint. It's not natural for an elephant to become an artist. They are closely monitored during this activity. While the elephant is painting, the trainer is beside it, using fingernails or sharp objects to guide the elephant. In reality, elephants don't enjoy painting at all.

Scientists often believe that the exceptional memory of elephants is a remarkable way to defend against potential harm. Elephants live in a matriarchal society and tend to remember their friends and foes vividly and for a long time. Moreover, they can recall places where they found food and water in the past. In fact, there have been documented cases where two elephants who performed together in a circus could still recognize each other when reunited 23 years later.

Research has revealed that elephants have duplicates of two cancer-fighting genes - P53. These genes hunt for cells with damaged DNA and eliminate any such cells before they can form tumors. These genes contribute to the extremely low cancer-related death rate in elephants (5%) compared to the human mortality rate of 25% due to cancer.

Elephants are innate swimmers: While elephants may not be able to jump or leap due to their large bodies, they possess an excellent swimming ability. They can breathe through their trunks while completely submerged in water. These colossal creatures are graceful swimmers and can swim continuously for up to 51 km. Despite their large size, their bodies can easily float in water by relaxing their muscles.

Elephants can breathe through their trunks while completely submerged in water.

Elephants possess exceptional memory power: Scientists often believe that the extraordinary memory of elephants is a fantastic way to deter enemies from causing them harm. Elephants live in a matriarchal society and tend to remember their friends and foes vividly and for a long time. Moreover, they can recall places where they found food and water in the past. In fact, there have been documented cases where two elephants who performed together in a circus could still recognize each other when reunited 23 years later.

In 2010, a 7-year-old Asian elephant named Kandula impressed researchers by utilizing tools from its surroundings to pluck fruits when out of reach. After observing the teasing fruits for a few days, Kandula had an 'aha moment'—a self-discovery moment. Spotting a large plastic box nearby, it rolled it step by step, standing on it to reach the fruit. Though Kandula's 'aha moment' didn't yield immediate results, it got stuck trying to reach the fruit. Kandula persisted by using another tool and even figured out how to stack boxes to elevate itself higher.

Similarly, Kandula, the elephant, learned to use a stick to scratch itself in areas it couldn't reach, either using tree branches or lying down on grass. In another observation, another elephant dug a small hole to drink water and then covered the hole with a ball made by chewing tree bark to prevent water evaporation, saving it for later use.

In 2012, an Asian elephant named Koshik baffled researchers by speaking five words in Korean. Dr. Angela Stoeger, the lead author of a study on Koshik published in Current Biology, stated, 'Considering the immense size of the elephant, the long trunk, and anatomical differences—for example, elephants have a long trunk instead of lips like other animals... and a large larynx that really fits the voice of the trainer, this is really remarkable.' While it is almost certain that Koshik does not understand the meaning of those words, scientists believe that Koshik mimics these sounds as a way to connect with humans, the only form of social contact Koshik had during its formative years.

Elephants employ a variety of subtle movements and gestures to communicate with each other. They are known to flare their ears when angered. The bond between a mother elephant and its calf is demonstrated through gentle caresses. If you see an elephant raising its trunk in an 'S' shape, it might be detecting your scent. This action also indicates that the elephant is awaiting new information, similar to situations where it perceives danger or encounters a stranger.

When an elephant feels uneasy or unsure of what to do, it may use its trunk to touch its face, ears, mouth, or other elephants' tusks as a soothing and comforting gesture. Elephants are highly empathetic and can express respect and condolences for deceased members of their family.

An elephant's brain is the largest among all land mammals. Compared to humans, it also has an exceptionally large number of nerve cells. The African elephant's brain contains about 257 billion nerve cells, three times the number found in the human brain.

However, the largest concentration of nerve cells is in the cerebellum, enhancing sensory functions. Therefore, elephants tend to capture a lot of information from their surroundings, displaying excellent learning skills.

This has been proven in various cases. For instance, an elephant previously learned from its peers about a reserve area. When injured by poachers, it utilized this acquired knowledge to seek help from humans in that reserve.

The elephant has been a subject of depiction in various cultures worldwide, in popular culture, mythology, and notably in Asia and Africa where they are prevalent. Since the Stone Age, elephants have been portrayed in ancient cave art. Over time, they have been depicted in various art forms, including paintings, sculptures, music, films, and even architecture.

A common theme across cultures is the portrayal with sentiments of admiration and reverence towards elephants, especially in religions, particularly in the Indian and Southeast Asian regions. Elephants are also known for their strength in war and are integral to the daily lives of indigenous populations, with some even used for ceremonial purposes (elephant parades). Elephants were once hunted for their tusks by Western colonialists.

Domesticated elephants are valuable and friendly animals to humans. For thousands of years, elephants have been domesticated for tasks such as logging, plowing, and carrying heavy loads, as well as performing in festivals. Elephants are intelligent animals, capable of quickly learning and remembering simple skills. People in East Asia often use elephants to pull large logs that bulldozers or tractors cannot handle. Asians also employ elephants for combat purposes (war elephants) in countries like India, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and more. Vietnamese people have long used elephants for various purposes, especially in military operations. Vietnamese, Cham, Khmer, and other ethnic groups in the Central Highlands have many legends and folk tales about elephants.

Elephants play a significant role in the culture of South and Southeast Asia. They appear in mythological stories in Jataka and Panchatantra. In religion, they hold sacred significance, and many temples worship elephant statues. In Hinduism, the head of the god Ganesha is an elephant head. They are beautifully adorned for use in grand processions in Kerala. Elephants were also historically used in wars, serving as war elephant units in India, Vietnam, etc. Elephants are national symbols and the national animal (national emblem) of Laos (also called the Land of a Million Elephants) and are prevalent in the art and symbolism of Laos and Thailand.

In Indian culture, the elephant is a common symbol. Elephants symbolize the vehicle of the god Indra, also known as the Thunder God, the God of War, and the God of Destiny. The image of an elephant in architecture is rich and vibrant, with various poses holding religious significance, often carved alongside the god Indra. The Cham people in Vietnam, influenced by Indian culture, often carve elephants in various forms such as statues, reliefs, terracotta decorations, etc. In Sanskrit chants of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the elephant is the only animal with hands, symbolizing giving and receiving. Another reason elephants are symbols of wealth and luck is that only wealthy families, aristocrats in ancient India, could afford elephants. Elephants symbolize class distinctions and wealth disparities in society.

In Buddhism, the elephant is a symbol of the power of the mind. At the beginning of the spiritual practice, the uncontrolled mind is symbolized by a gray elephant that can run wild anytime and destroy everything in its path. After practicing the Dharma, the mind is now under control, symbolized by a powerful and courageous white elephant that can go wherever it wants and destroy all obstacles in its path. The six-tusked white elephant is also the mount of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, symbolizing victory over the six senses. According to legend, Buddha Shakyamuni entered the womb of Queen Sirimahamaya in the form of a white elephant, signifying his noble birth.

In Vietnamese culture, elephants are frequently mentioned in stories, proverbs, and sayings. For example:

• Ten elephants are not equal to a bowl of porridge: Referring to those who boast without substance.
• Avoid the elephant, no bad face: Suggesting a method of dealing with people, handling situations, without giving in.
• Fortune-teller reads elephants: Folklore story.
• Given an elephant, demanding a fairy: Expressing excessive greed, unreasonable demands.
• Elephant wearing horse shoes: Evoking a cruel punishment.
• Elephant's head, mouse's tail: Referring to actions that fall short, incomplete.

Known as black ivory coffee, this elephant dung coffee fetches a staggering price of 1,500 USD/kg (31.6 million VND/kg), surpassing the price of the renowned civet coffee, which ranges from 500 to 1,000 USD/kg. To savor elephant coffee, your only stop is Macau in China, where you can acquire it for a relatively 'affordable' price of 488 patacas (1.3 million VND) for 35 grams, plus service charges.

The labor-intensive process behind this premium coffee begins with elephants in Thailand. Here, elephants are fed with Thai Arabica coffee cherries, and the coffee is later harvested from their dung after a period of natural fermentation.

Similar to Asian palm civets, elephants go through a process where coffee is collected from their dung after a certain period. Only 200kg of elephant dung coffee is produced annually. It takes 33kg of Thai Arabica cherries to yield 1kg of elephant dung coffee. The final product is renowned for its rich aroma, notes of chocolate, hazelnut, and a hint of tobacco.

Harvested from elephant dung after a specific period, elephant coffee is renowned for its sophisticated and refined flavor profile, served in some 5-star resorts in Thailand, Malaysia, and the Maldives. In MGM Macau, elephant coffee is exclusively served in VIP casino rooms. The popularity of this coffee extends beyond Macau, with a surge in coffee shops in Hong Kong, catering to increasingly discerning palates.