Have you ever had an itch in a place that seems impossible to get to? And then, like this elephant, you found the perfect object to relieve your frustration.
Mfundo Nyambi shared this amusing footage with Latest Sightings. He filmed the encounter on the S28 in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
No mistaking a male
As we join Mfundo at the sighting, we see an elephant in a rather awkward position. For reasons that will soon become apparent, it has straddled one of the park’s stone signposts.
The elephant is a young bull. Ordinarily, this can be confirmed by noting the rounded shape of its forehead; however, even from this view, there are clues. Say no more.
Improvising for an itch
As the short video rolls, we see the bull move his body back and forth across the top of the sign. Evidently, he has had to improvise a novel way to attend to a hard-to-reach itch.
Considering bulls weigh up to six tons and he is rubbing a rather delicate area, it is surprising how vigorously he moves. Perhaps he has ulterior motives?
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Getting serious now
On a more serious note, like so much that animals do, there is probably a perfectly valid reason for his unusual behaviour. The most likely is irritation due to parasites.
Of course, elephants have an incredible trunk that acts like a hand in so many ways. However, it is of little use when tiny ticks need to be removed.
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Tail wagging
Throughout the experience, the elephant’s tail wags about in all directions. If they are anything like dogs, he seems to be enjoying himself.
In fact, an elephant’s tail can tell observers about its state of mind. Below, we’ve listed what various tail postures indicate:
- Tail swaying loosely – relaxed & content
- Motionless, pointing down – alert & uncomfortable
- Held horizontal – Agitated & aggressive
- Held upright – excited, playful OR fearful and stressed.
In the interests of safety, however, always remember to evaluate overall behaviour and context before making assumptions.
Elephant skincare
As the bull continues his antics, it’s hard not to notice how wrinkled his skin is. And, as you can imagine, his hide is both tough and thick.
However, their skin is surprisingly delicate. As such, they have quite a complex skincare routine.
At regular intervals, elephants bathe, both in water and in mud. Since elephants can’t sweat, the practice helps cool their massive bodies, with moisture trapped in the wrinkle prolonging the benefits.
After bathing, elephants typically throw dust on themselves to deter new parasite infestations. This hardens to form a protective barrier from UV rays. When the elephant later rubs against a tree, it also rubs off any parasites caught in the mixture.
Elephants are arguably the most interesting creatures to observe. As intelligent, social, and sentient creatures, many of the behaviours they exhibit mirror our own. So next time you see an elephant, take a little time to see if you can relate to its behaviour. You’ll only end up loving them more.
