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Welcome back to another EleFact Friday! Today we’re talking about what happens to elephant bodies as they age. Sometimes we get comments or concerns about the girls looking thin. While there are times–like when Mara was having gastrointestinal issues–when an elephant does lose significant weight, it’s important to remember that many of our preconceptions about elephant bodies come from images in the media or from witnessing unhealthy elephants at zoos and circuses. Elephants in captivity generally tend to be overweight, mostly because of lack of exercise and a fruit-heavy diet, when natural grazing is not available. In nature, elephants tend to be leaner and more muscular. 

Just like people, when elephants age they lose muscle tone, which makes them look thinner, regardless of their actual weight. Some of that muscle tone loss occurs in the belly, which can start to look bigger in some elephants. As muscles loosen, you will often see the spine more clearly and the bones in the head will become more distinct. 

Teeth are another indicator of age. Elephants go through 6 sets of molars in their lifetime. The final set usually emerges in their 40s and are meant to last for the rest of their lives. As an elephant ages, the teeth wear down and they may lose some or all of a tooth. We monitor this by looking in their mouths and checking the consistency of their fecal boluses and make adjustments to their diet as necessary. Regular blood work helps us keep an eye on their organ function, which can also be impacted as they age. 

We also try to keep an eye on whether they’re lying down to sleep at night. Many elephants will stop lying down if they have concerns about being able to get back up on their own. This can be checked in a very simple way–by checking for wet or dirty marks on one side of their body when they come to breakfast. Of course, we also watch closely for signs of having trouble moving their limbs or showing stiffness, which can be an indication of worsening arthritis. 

With the exception of Guillermina, all of the elephants at the sanctuary are in their later years. We will be monitoring all of these things for the rest of their lives. Aging can be a beautiful process, and our goal is always to provide the most therapeutic, healing environment to help them along the way.