Elephants are known for many things, including their large sizes, long trunks, family groups, and matriarchal hierarchies. However, there’s something pretty freaky that many people don’t know about (and may be best never knowing).
Yet, we think we owe you all the truth about your cute giant friends. Spoiler: The males have some weird quirks that may leave you horrified.
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Elephants get scratchy bellies
Embed from Getty ImagesLike humans and many other animals, elephants occasionally get itchy in various places. Unlike many of us, they don’t really have arms and hands to do the job, and it’s hard for their trunks to reach their bellies, so some have figured out a different approach to the issue.
Not all elephants can scratch their itchy bellies this way
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile we have no doubt some elephants have mastered this technique, it’s not something that female elephants, actually known as cows in the animal kingdom, can execute.
This disturbing tummy scratch technique is a male elephant specialty.
One Australian videographer shared a video example no one will ever forget
Australian videographer and photographer Jack Swynnerton shared a video of a male elephant in Kenya that will haunt people forever.
At first glance, you may think that the male elephant, also known as a bull in the animal kingdom, has a third trunk. But think again and let the shock set it.
It’s exactly what you think it is but wish it wasn’t
Embed from Getty ImagesMale elephants do indeed use their genitals to scratch their bellies, and it’s just not something that many of us ever thought we would learn or discuss. This isn’t exactly the random trivia you want to bring to the family dinner table.
People had shocked reactions to the video
Embed from Getty ImagesOne person was a little confused after never seeing this part of a male elephant before.
“Are you telling me I’ve only seen female elephants my entire life?” they wrote in the comments. Other people were quick to explain that they’ve probably seen a male elephant but didn’t notice its “special belly scratcher” because male elephants don’t always have them out on such display.
So, if you now fear seeing a little too much of a male elephant, you may or may not be OK.
Many people regret learning this animal fact
From Animal Planet to many other nature shows, people are fascinated by the animal kingdom. However, for some, there’s definitely such thing as too much information.
Someone wrote, “Out of all things needed to learn, this was not one of them.”
It took a minute for some people to understand what they were seeing
Embed from Getty ImagesMaybe it was denial, innocence, or something else that prevented some people from noticing the male elephant’s “member.”
After the big aha moment hit one person, they wrote, “Bruh I thought it was a baby elephant’s trunk.” They weren’t alone; several other people wanted to believe they were seeing something much more innocent.
Female elephants have to find their own tools for belly scratching
Embed from Getty ImagesOne person asked a very important question, writing, “How does the Female scratch her stomach?”
Without certain “built-in equipment,” female elephants rely on tree stumps, rocks, and anything else in their environments that can get the job done.
This is just one of many things that male elephants can do with themselves
Embed from Getty ImagesWe realize that this information may only be more fuel for the nightmare that’s already begun, but we have a little more for you if you’re already fully immersed in this rollercoaster.
According to National Geographic, male elephants have prehensile penises, meaning that they can actually use their members to prop themselves up. Had enough? We think that’s all any of us need to know for now. Just let it all sink in.
What do you think of this freaky elephant fact?
Embed from Getty ImagesDid we change the way you look at elephants forever? Let us know in the comments what you think of this weird info that no one actually asked for but remains true.
