Elephant - mud-slinging !!

Elephant -    mud-slinging !! 

Imp Pre-script:  No political post this ! – a photo taken by me recently and some thoughts flowing on that !!

பழமொழிகள் சில நாம் வேறு அர்த்தத்தில் புரிந்து கொள்கிறோம் !!  "யானை தன தலையில் தானே மண்ணை வாரி போட்டுக்கொள்வது போல" - என்பது வழக்கத்தில், தனக்கு தானே தீங்கை தேடி கொள்ளுதல், முட்டாள்தனமான செயல் என அறியப்படுகிறது.  சிலர் தங்களது ஆணவத்தால் தங்களுக்குத் தாங்களே அழிவைத் தேடிக் கொள்வர்  எனவும் கூறுவர்கள். 

The noun – ‘mudslinging’ would mean :  the act of saying insulting or unfair things about someone, especially to try to damage their reputation.  The act often quoted is that of elephant throwing sand or mud onthemselves.  Humans interpret it as a foolish act – why would an animal fresh and clean throws sand on itself making it dirty is the Q ? 

Elephant are big and beautiful - African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, slightly larger than their Asian cousins.  What attracts most is the  rhythmic, pendulum-like swinging from side to side, so common with elephants when standing in a place !  - devoid of monotony.  Elephants are fascinating animals. They are extremely intelligent and powerful. An elephant can lift a tree with its trunk, at the same time pick up something like a needle from the ground too. .. ..  and they have the habit of  throwing dirt on themselves. 

Elephants look strong and rugged – their skin is very thick too but  incredibly delicate and susceptible to UV rays and heat generated by the sun. In addition, elephants do not have sweat glands, so they cannot sweat as a way to regulate their skin temperature and cope with the impending sun.  Well then, the dirt they throw helps them cleanse themselves of any insects or parasites accumulated during the day. In this way, the sand and gravel have been the best exfoliator the elephants have ever gotten, helping them get rid of dead skin.

 

This sounds a plausible scientific explanation but .. .. elephants do throw mud on themselves even when it is not so hot ! – Science reads from human perspective .. .. there could be lot more to that – and what is dirt and dust may not mean the same to them !!   this habit has been passed on to them over generations

 
Interesting !
 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
16.6.2023