On safari, especially during the rainy season, it’s common to encounter certain animal species that are covered in mud. Elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and warthogs are common visitors to these mud pools, which form wherever water accumulates in depressions. Some begin small but grow over time to become deep mud pools or even a waterhole.
Elephants in particular, who already produce a lot of metabolic heat while being exposed to the African sun, don’t readily pass up the chance to cover themselves in mud during this season.
Elephants use the cooler mud to control their body temperature and serve as sun protection because they lack sweat glands to help them cool off. The mud can also be used to protect them against parasites and get rid of them if they have any on their skin.
An elephant will probably use its trunk to spray mud all over its body, usually starting with the backs of its ears because they lose the most heat from them. The younger elephants prefer to do this more frequently than the adults since it can take too long or they simply find it more entertaining and interesting to simply roll around while lying down in the mud.
Let’s take a look at this baby elephant and his cute actions as he lies down in the mud in the video below:
Sourrce: https://dailylifeworld.com
