Did you know that the elephant’s trunk is so strong that it can rip off a tree branch? This trunk serves many purposes. It can pick up very delicate objects, but it’s also used for fighting and even for bringing food and water up to the elephant’s mouth.

But did you know that the trunk is very sensitive despite its strength? The elephant uses his trunk to see, smell, and touch, but it also serves as a hand or front foot. It has very poor eyesight and is considered the elephant’s most vulnerable spot.

This not only means it needs protection but also means that when an elephant sees an object with its trunk, it perceives the size of the thing compared to itself, not relative to how far away it is. This makes even a tiny object seem vast and scary to the elephant.

Elephants, by nature, are very gentle animals. But if one feels threatened, it will make sure to defend itself with its trunk. The trunk is mighty and can easily knock a full-grown man over.

The whole body weighs 42,000 kg and is the largest recorded size of any land mammal. The trunk can weigh up to 3 kg and add another 7-9 kg when it’s full of water (which the elephant needs to drink 1-3L per day).

The trunk itself has 2 muscles; the primary muscle and a smaller muscle at the end called the finger. This finger or small muscle is also powerful and can pick up a pin or a needle.

The trunk has 2 nostrils so small that it only allows the elephant to breathe through its trunk when it’s lifted. So, despite what you may think, an elephant cannot hold its breath for so long as to pass out/suffocate.

The trunk is one of the most versatile and valuable tools made. Given the size and strength, if it were a human body part, we’d name it ‘King Finger.’ The elephant does not even have to use its mouth or feet when using this ‘King Finger.’ Just a slight movement in the right place will do.