Wildlife: why does an elephant need a trunk?

Once I walked with my daughter on the zoo. When we approached the aviary with an African elephant, my daughter asked me a question that at first glance seemed simple: "Mom, why does an elephant need a trunk?" I hurried to explain to her that it was his "hands". My daughter was quite satisfied with my explanation, but she did not. I was wondering what the full functional of this simple organ, belonging to the largest terrestrial animal in the world, is, simply speaking, why the elephant trunk? Let's figure it out together!

Why does an elephant need a trunk?

I myself thought it was like a hand, nose and lips at the same time. After reading all kinds of literature, I realized that I was close to the truth. Comrades, it turns out, the elephant's trunk is quite multifunctional! About some of its destinations, you even do not know!

Smell and lips

First of all, this, of course, is the sense of smell! The trunk is the nose of an elephant. Turning it in different directions, the animal easily recognizes various smells, another animal, a person or danger. In addition to the olfactory, the trunk is used by the elephant and as a lip. With the help of it, the animal easily gets and puts food in its mouth.

"Hands" and "breadwinner"

Perhaps the most important explanation why an elephant needs a trunk is, of course, its second "hands"! As this herbivore, this "hand" allows the mammal to easily rip off leaves or whole branches from the upper tiers of trees, and also draw water from rivers and lakes. By the way, the latter is quite an interesting moment from the life of elephants. Many people are not so much interested in why an elephant needs a trunk, how many, why does it water itself from it? Friends, well, it's just that - it's the most ordinary cooling shower, a forced measure on rather hot days, and as is known, in the places of permanent habitation of elephants - India and Africa - summer continues all year round ... But let's return to our "rams". The trunk helps not only to tear off the leaves, but also to drive away various insects biting the terrestrial giant. In addition, with the trunk, the elephant itches. By the way, all this explains why the elephant has a long trunk. Evolution is not slumbering! Short proboscis would hardly cope with the above tasks.

Self-defense

One of the important functions of the trunk in the life of this animal is the ability to defend itself from enemies. A multifunctional body is an enviable "weapon" against different enemies. I was interested to know that the blow from the elephant's trunk is so powerful that it sometimes leads to the instant death of its offender! But in most cases, this, of course, is just a disability.

Means of communication

With the help of a trunk, elephants make various sounds that help these animals communicate with each other. In addition, without him no marriage games pass. It is this organ that the elephant conquers the position of the female ...

My trunk is my enemy!

When a person realized what a great functionality is hidden in a single elephant's organ, then, without hesitation, began to subordinate the animal to his will. For example, the English colonialists used the elephant and his trunk for a long time as a labor force. Little did they have blacks! The fact is that with the help of a trunk the elephant easily shakes the trees, carries heavy objects (for example logs), paving the way where there is a continuous impassability.

So we sorted it out!

And so, dear friends, the trunk is the universal and vital organ of any elephant - both Indian and African! Now that I have a complete information picture, I can easily answer the question of my daughter!