Volume up to hear Mara sucking the water into her trunk. Elephant trunks are incredible. They can grab a single blade of grass, or pluck a single berry off a bush, yet it’s strong enough to lift a tree casually.
Their trunks don’t have any bones – muscularly, they’re similar to a human tongue. The part of their trunks that looks like a finger is actually called a finger.
African elephants have two fingers, but Asian elephants only have one. Their trunks have two separate nostrils, as you can see in this video.
As trunks are also noses, they have a bit of a mucus drip. This could be why some elephants prefer the water directly in their mouth sometimes, rather than through their trunks first. Of course, laziness could have something to do with it too. ?
This short video is of Rana and Mara drinking. Rana had already drunk a bit before we began filming, so hers is the trunk that isn’t as enthusiastic. Mara is the wider nose and the one whose face you see at the end when she drinks. Their trunks can hold about two gallons (8 liters) of water.
Comments(14) 
- PO Box 2426
- Brentwood, TN 37024
- (615) 435-9523
- Ways to Support
- GSE Merchandise
- Privacy Policy
Title USD
Susan says
June 19, 2020 at 4:29 pmLove it!!!!!! I was just watching another video on Twitter of an African elephant tossing dirt onto his back using his trunk and it was in slow motion, just incredible dexterity that they learn and develop!!! Thank you for posting!!!
Charlotte Hansen says
June 19, 2020 at 4:47 pmThank you for all the fun facts that are always in your posts! There’s so much to learn about elephants, and the more we learn, the more we love them!
Renee' Killian-Zeiger says
June 19, 2020 at 4:51 pmWhat’s the MOST amazing thing about all this is watching Mara living her best elephant life she can going forward. It may not be the wild life she was intended, HOWEVER, she’s certainly making the most of her “ELEPHANT ? TIME” Now. That’s a beautiful thing. It’s like the American Pointer that I adopted from the breeder who had her as a kennel dog for the first 13 months of her life. (She was well cared for). That dog was OBSESSED with tennis balls, pointing my cat and falling leaves. The WHOLE world opened up for that doggie. The same with Maia, Rana, Lady, Mara, Guida, and Grandmother Ramba. These videos make my heart sing with happiness!
Wim Diepeveen says
June 19, 2020 at 5:00 pmWonderful Trunk Masterclass. It’s quite ordinary to only have a mouth. I do hope to be an Elephant again in my next life. Thank you guys for another exciting video. ???
Margaret says
June 19, 2020 at 5:28 pmTechnical question… So, for a full trunk you have to fill both nostrils? And that acts like a straw, where they then drain the water into the mouth? It does seem like elephants really like hoses, and figure them out pretty quickly!
Kat Blais says
June 19, 2020 at 8:03 pmyes. their nostrils run separately for the full length of their trunk. once they fill their trunk they lift it to their mouth and spray the water into it. a lot of the girls like the hose sprayed directly into their mouth, which Mara likes as well. it just seems to depend on the day. 😉
Heidi says
June 19, 2020 at 5:58 pmThat is so fun to watch!!!!
Barb says
June 19, 2020 at 6:18 pmWow! Amazing what those trunks can accomplish! Fun to listen to the girls drinking!
Paula says
June 19, 2020 at 6:32 pmMuchas muchas gracias por compartir este video!?
Es un privilegio poder observar estas maravillosas imágenes!
❤??
Sheila says
June 19, 2020 at 7:43 pmYes! Big ???gals need big amounts of water!! And cool for the ladies! I think of the freshness too, the hose water is far cleaner than the pond water! ?
Sallie Robbins-Druian says
June 19, 2020 at 11:09 pmSLURP SLURP SNORT! What a beautiful sound of Happiness!
Rosie P says
June 20, 2020 at 3:13 amThis is amazing! And,I didn’t know that African ellies have 2 “fingers” and Asians one. This is an informative video as well as fun to watch……happy elephants! I love these blogs and learn more and more about these magnificent creatures every week.
TerryTerry says
June 20, 2020 at 9:08 pmThank you for this video saw it the other day and just sent to a friend – this is the first time I have actually seen elephants drink water this way. Amazing, I have seen elephants drink from a hose previously but the hose was in their mouths at the time. Loved this. Thank you for all you do for the Girls.
Debra Moore says
June 20, 2020 at 9:54 pmSHEESH, the bottomless trunks! They can drink me under the table any time! This was TERRIFIC. Thanks!
Subscribe to our Blog
Shop & Support Elephants
Visit our online store and and help spread the word about the need for sanctuary for captive elephants.
Give Through Our Wishlist
Shop and choose a treat or much-needed item for one of the elephants.
Categories
Archives
Global Sanctuary for Elephants
Stay connected with our herd
"*" indicates required fields
MISSION: Protecting, rescuing, and providing sanctuary for elephants worldwide.
Global Sanctuary for Elephants is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt, public charity status (EIN 46-3564818) and all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
© Global Sanctuary for Elephants. All Rights Reserved
Your ticket for the: Elephant Trunks Are Incredible!
Elephant Trunks Are Incredible!