A Sentience Article from All-Creatures.org



The Powerful, Multi-Use Elephant Trunk

From PAWS Performing Animal Welfare Society
June 2023

Elephants use their powerful trunks—the fusion of the elephant’s upper lip and nose—for everything from drinking water, foraging, bathing, smelling, exploring, tossing dust and mud onto their bodies, picking up and manipulating objects, blowing objects away or sniffing them in, signaling aggression, producing sounds, tactile contact with other elephants, and other behaviors.

Elephant trunks
African elephants Mara (left) and Thika use their trunks to grab leaves high up in trees. Thika uses the fence to increase her reach.

Caring for our seven Asian and African elephants—Lulu, Toka, Gypsy, Thika, Mara, Prince, and Nicholas—we are reminded of just how amazing these animals are. We see the evidence of it each and every day, including when it comes to the wonder that is the elephant’s trunk.

Elephants use their powerful trunks—the fusion of the elephant’s upper lip and nose—for everything from drinking water, foraging, bathing, smelling, exploring, tossing dust and mud onto their bodies, picking up and manipulating objects, blowing objects away or sniffing them in, signaling aggression, producing sounds, tactile contact with other elephants, and other behaviors.

At the ARK 2000 sanctuary, we have witnessed the incredible physical strength of an elephant, who can pull down huge tree limbs and move them around with ease (we’re thinking about you, Mara!). That’s no surprise when you consider that an elephant’s trunk is capable of lifting over 700 pounds.

The trunk itself can weigh up to 300 pounds, and its musculature makes it extraordinarily flexible. There are eight major muscles on either side of the trunk (which does not have bones), and one central muscle between nasal passages. However, there are about 150,000 fascicles (bundles of muscle fibers surrounded by connective tissue) that work together with the major muscles and give the trunk its great flexibility.

One of the differences between Asian and African elephants—two different species—is the number of “fingers” at the end of the trunk. These fingers allow for great dexterity.

Asian elephants have one “finger” that can be used to curl around and scoop up food, whereas African elephants have “two fingers” that allow them to firmly grasp items such as blades of grass. The skin of the trunk tip actually differs from that of the surrounding skin, with a high density of nerve endings, making it very sensitive.

Elephant trunks also have numerous whiskers, with the most found near the sensitive tip. Elephant whiskers do not actually “whisk” (quickly and repeatedly sweep back and forth) like a rat, nor are they as exquisitely sensitive. The flexibility of the trunk allows the whiskers to do their job of providing sensory input, although their role is more for sensing coarse tactile stimuli.

The trunk gives elephants great reach. We often see the elephants at PAWS extend their trunks high up into the trees in their habitats to grab leaves or acorns. Elephants can extend their trunks quite far—about six to 6.5 feet or even longer. That’s why we always take serious precautions around our elephants in order to protect caregivers.

Water is essential for an elephant—for drinking and bathing—which is why our elephants always have access to fresh water. Elephants drink water by sucking it into their trunk and spraying it into the mouth. Researchers found that an elephant can suck up three liters of water per second—a speed 30 times faster than a human sneeze. They also can dilate their nostrils to create more space in their trunks and hold up to 5.5 liters of water.

The trunk’s multifaceted use and flexibility are truly a wonder and part of what makes elephants such interesting and exceptional animals.

[Article references include: The functional anatomy of elephant trunk whiskers, Deiringer et al. (2023); Suction feeding by elephants, Schulz et al. (2021); Frequently Asked Questions About Elephants, Shoshani & Foley (2000).]


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