Summary:
– Elephants’ feet are an essential part of their body that requires proper care.
– An elephant “pedicure” involves cleaning, inspection, trimming, and attending to the foot pad.
– Zoologists assess which feet need attention; the procedure usually takes about 15 minutes per foot.
– The elephants enjoy the attention and food during the procedure.
– Proper foot care is crucial for elephants’ movement and overall health.
Elephants are one of our planet’s most magnificent and intelligent animals, known for their size, strength, and impressive trunks. However, one of the most critical aspects of their body that people might overlook is their feet. Elephants are known to have thick, foot-like pads that carry a considerable amount of weight, so proper foot care is essential.
At the Dallas Zoo, our zoologists take elephant foot care seriously. Caring for our elephants’ feet is an essential part of our zoologists’ work, and it’s a crucial aspect of keeping them healthy and enhancing their well-being.
An elephant’s foot pad grows continuously, so our zookeepers aim to treat each elephant’s feet at least once a week. The team works in a barn behind the scenes, using trained behaviors that keep the zoologists and elephants safe and comfortable throughout the procedure.
The first step in an elephant “pedicure” is to clean and inspect the feet thoroughly. This includes removing excess dirt, debris, and foreign objects that may have gotten trapped in the foot pad.
Next, the zoologists trim the elephant’s nails. If the nails are too long, it can cause pain and discomfort while walking. Trimming nails can also prevent the elephant from putting pressure on its toes.
After trimming the nails, the zoologists attend to the foot pad. They check for any rocks or other foreign objects that may have gotten trapped in the foot pad or between the toes, which can cause discomfort and lead to infections.
Then, the zoologists file down any excess skin, which can become problematic if it rubs against the ground while the elephant is walking. They also remove skin flaps, which can develop if the foot pad sustains an injury.
Finally, the zoologists assess which feet need attention during each visit, so the team doesn’t always care for all four feet during the same procedure. Our zoologists can typically finish the work in 15 minutes or less for each foot.
The elephants enjoy the attention and food during the procedure. They are given snacks to munch on while the zoologists work on their feet. Most elephants enjoy the pedicure, and some even seek out the zoologists for a quick trim!
Proper foot care is crucial for elephants’ movement and overall health. Elephants carry enormous weight on their feet, which can lead to various foot problems if left untreated. Additionally, foot care can help prevent injuries, infections, and other health problems.
In conclusion, caring for an elephant’s feet is essential to our zoologists’ work. It requires attention to detail, patience, and communication between the zoologists and the elephants. However, engaging people and saving wildlife is a necessary and rewarding aspect of our mission.
*****
Source Description
ELEPHANT PEDICURES! 💅 Elephants are known for their size, strength, and impressive trunks. But their feet are one of the most essential parts of their body, so caring for our elephants’ feet is essential to our zoologists’ work.
The skin on an elephant’s foot pad grows continuously, so our zoologists try to treat each elephant’s feet at least once a week, working in a barn behind the scenes and using trained behaviors that keep our zoologists and elephants safe and comfortable throughout the care.
An elephant “pedicure” entails a general cleaning and inspection, trimming the nails so the elephant doesn’t put pressure on them while walking, and then attending to the pad of the foot by checking for and removing any rocks, filing down excess skin, and removing skin flaps.
The zoologists also assess which feet need attention, so the team doesn’t always care for all four feet in the same visit. Our zoologists can usually finish the work in 15 minutes or less for each foot. The elephants are given food to enjoy while receiving their relaxing pedicures, and most usually don’t seem to mind the treatment. They focus on the snacks and enjoy the attention while we keep their feet healthy!
➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/SubscribeDallasZooTube
Follow the Dallas Zoo:
Official Site: http://bit.ly/DallasZooOfficialSite
Facebook: http://bit.ly/DallasZooFacebook
Instagram: http://bit.ly/DallasZooInstagram
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dallaszoo
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dallaszooofficial
Engaging People & Saving Wildlife
