016a Desert-adapted elephant dust bathing in Damaraland Photo by Giles Laurent

A CLOSER LOOK

Desert-adapted elephant dust bathing in Damaraland, Namibia. Desert-adapted elephants often dust-bathe by spraying sand or dust over their bodies with their trunks. This behavior helps protect their skin from intense sun and heat, acts as a natural insect repellent, and creates a protective layer that reduces moisture loss in the harsh desert environment. Desert-adapted elephants are the same species than African bush elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) but have behavior and physical adaptations for life in extreme desert environments. They are generally slimmer and slightly smaller than typical bush elephants and weighing toward the lower end of the species’ range due to limited food availabil

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