Red Elephants of Tsavo

Imagine encountering a creature that looks different from the conventional image of its species. Ask anyone about an elephant's colour, and the response will range from gray to black or brown. A keen observer might mention the delicate pinkish hues adorning specific areas like the ears and trunk. However, red wouldn't be the expected answer. Yet the elephants at the Tsavo National Park, Kenya, have a reddish hue.

Tsavo National Park, the largest in Kenya, spans 22,000 square kilometers. The Nairobi-Mombasa Railway divides the park into two: Tsavo East and Tsavo West. Tsavo East has expansive savannah plains, punctuated by thorny bushes, acacia trees, scrublands, and woodlands. In contrast, Tsavo West has jagged black rocks, remnants of solidified ancient lava flows. Despite their distinct landscapes, these parks have the red soil in common. High iron oxide content gives the soil its red colour.

How do these elephants get the red hue? From their everyday behaviors: bathing, dusting, and interacting with their surroundings. Tsavo's fine red volcanic soil serves as a playground and a grooming salon for these giants.

Observing elephants indulging in a mud bath is like watching a ritual. The elephants amble to a water source (preferably a water hole), and with their powerful trunks they spray water and soil over their colossal frames. The mud acts as a natural coolant, not only cooling their body through evaporation but also blocking the sun's intense rays. It helps keep their body temperature at a comfortable level even in the heat of the day. Moreover, as the mud dries on their skin, it contracts, effectively tightening the skin (serving as a mud pack!) and forming a protective layer against pests and parasites.

Elephants are not just content with slathering themselves with mud. They use their mighty front feet to dig into the ground, creating small depressions that hold the dusty earth. Then, using their trunk they scoop this dust and spray it all over their bodies. The layer of dust acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting them from sunburn. The dusty veneer also serves as a protective shield against tick bites.

After their mud baths, these elephants take on an almost surreal appearance. One could describe their color as vermilion, claret, terracotta, or burgundy. What's fascinating is that this coloration is not permanent. Just as an artist's canvas can be reworked, an elephant's skin is a dynamic canvas, changing with the color of their environment.

This natural "makeover" of the elephants of Tsavo is thus both a defense mechanism and an adaptation to their environment.