EleFact Friday: From the Heart

For today’s EleFact Friday, we’ll be looking into elephant hearts, their size, and their heart rates. Although elephants’ physical size towers over many other species, the internal organs are proportionally no bigger than those of many other mammals. However, the heart in particular is surprisingly large and can vary in size depending on the elephant’s age and weight. The average weight for an elephant heart is about 12 to 21 kg (approximately 26 to 46 pounds) and comprises about 0.5% of the animal’s total body weight. Comparatively, an adult human heart only weighs about 410 grams and is the size of a clenched fist.

In terms of heart rate, elephants are actually on the lower end of the spectrum. To hear an adult elephant’s heart rate, an EKG or other amplification methods must be used, as opposed to a normal stethoscope. Their hearts beat around 30 times per minute, compared to the average human resting heart rate of about 60-100 beats per minute. Elephants have significantly higher average blood pressure (about 180mmHg) to keep their much larger vessels open. To counter this, elephants have notably lower resting heart rates.

Generally speaking, most mammals’ heart rates slow down when resting or sleeping. The elephant is also unique this way, with a heart rate that actually speeds up when they are lying down. This is because, when lying or resting, the weight of their bodies reduces their lung capacity – leading to both the heart rate and blood pressure increasing. It’s remarkable how our bodies all make accommodations for how we live and what we do.

Photo of big-hearted Maia

Comments(8)

Carol says
September 20, 2024 at 2:33 pm

Brilliant. Thanks so much for Friday enlightenments!
JoAnn Merriman-Eaton says
September 20, 2024 at 2:48 pm

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read the # elefactfriday posts. I always learn something new about the fabulous, amazing, incredible elephant! 🐘❤️
Zoi Flores says
September 20, 2024 at 3:39 pm

Beautiful Maia’s photo! Thank you for the interesting information.
Barb says
September 20, 2024 at 3:59 pm

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing this remarkable information.
Debra moore says
September 20, 2024 at 10:04 pm

Thank you for the heartfelt message.
Eileen L. says
September 20, 2024 at 11:13 pm

I enjoy learning about all of the things you are teaching us! Thank you!
Charlotte Hansen says
September 21, 2024 at 12:35 am

Fascinating stuff–thank you!!
Sheila says
September 27, 2024 at 4:20 am

MAIA. CERTAINLY HAS A BIG HEART! SHE WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF GUIDA. HER PARTNER IN CIRCUS FOR 32 YRS APPROX. MAIA WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF GUIDA. THEN AFTER GUIDA PASSED AWAY POOR MAIA. HAD SUCH A BROKEN 💔🐘HEART FOR ABOUT 3 +YRS. GRADUALLY RANA GOT MAIA. TO JOIN IN THE HERD OF MARA, BAMBI . MAIA. WOULD GRAZE. ALONG WITH LADIES THEN GO OFF TO SWIM OR SNOOZE IN POND. WHEN GUILLIE AND POACHA ARRIVED. MAIA OBSERVED THEM. SUDDENLYY AFTER 5 MO POACHA DIED! MAIA IM SURE HAD GRIEF RETURN AGAIN BUT SHE KNEW GUILLIE NEEDED AN AUNTY! MAIA. STARTED TO ENCOUNTER GUILLIE MORE TO COMFORT HER AND OFFER GUIDANCE AS GUILLIE WAS A SPOILED OLDER GIRL BY. HER MUMA. GUILLIE HAS MOVED FROM RANA ,& MARA TO MAIA, ,,& BAMIBI. AND IT APPEARS AUNTY BAMBI IS
NEEDING HELP WITH HER DIMINISHING EYESIGHT SO OF MAIA IS BUSY, GUILLIE STAYS CLOSE TO BAMBI. THIS LIASON IS GREAT FOR MAIA. BAMBI AND GUILLIE!😍

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