Because the elephant´s skin does not have perspiration glands, they have to cool themselves in anoth
Because the elephant´s skin does not have perspiration glands, they have to cool themselves in another way. Aside from looking incredibly fun, mud baths serve a critical purpose for elephants. Under the harsh sun, the heat and UV radiation can be deadly. Romping around in mud not only cools elephants down, but provides a protective layer to shield their body from the sun’s rays. Since elephant hair is fairly sparse on their bodies, they actually can get sunburnt, especially young elephants with sensitive skin. It is important that they get a good coating of mud as it will act as a sort of adhesive later on when they move on to the dust bath. The combination of mud and dust helps elephants protect their sensitive skin from the sun and insect bites.And yes, the an elephant´s skin is - despite its thickness - a very sensitive system. An elephant notices every fly landing on him/her! -- source link
#painted