Elephants can weigh up to 11,000 lbs. African elephants have very large ears, and Indian elephant’s ears are smaller; their ears are their ‘air conditioning system’; as they don’t have sweat glands the many veins in their ears can be up to an inch across – by flapping their ears an elephant is able to cool 10 degrees in very little time.
The trunk can weigh up to 300lbs and has 100,00 muscle units in 6 major groups and is a very versatile tool for eating, bathing, drinking etc. With it’s trunk the elephant can lift a 500lb log or gently take something from the hand of a child. It’s tusks can weigh up to 200lbs each.
Their foot bones are protected by a thick cushioned pad, which enables them to walk almost silently. Their calves weigh up to 300lbs. Although the elephant may sink several feet into mud in a watering place they have no problem with suction (which would pull our boots off) because their leg decreases in circumference as it is pulled out.
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