INGESTING WATER WITHOUT USING THE TRUNK

After 22 months of gestation elephants are born neurologically prewired with the ability to walk within a matter of hours. In contrast, it will take them another six to eight months and a lot of practice before they are able to suck up water with their trunk and blow it into their mouths.
This photo of a young elephant that has not yet learned this skill was taken at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage located inside Nairobi National Park. The Trust has rescued over 200 baby elephants, often found after poachers have slaughtered their mothers for their ivory.
It is a huge commitment of time and effort by the Trust’s staff, as it can take up to ten years to raise and fully prepare an elephant to be integrated into a wild herd. Established in 1977 the Trust has released over 100 orphaned elephants and they in turn have given birth to more than 25 wild born calves.
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