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Elephant caught 'smoking' on camera leaves scientists baffled
From Youtube:
Smoke-breathing' elephant stumps scientists
IBTimes UK
Published on Mar 23, 2018
While visiting camera-trap locations as part of a long-term project to study tigers and their prey populations in Nagaharole National Park in India, WCS scientists and colleagues came upon an elephant displaying unusual behavior. "I believe the elephant may have been trying to ingest wood charcoal," said Dr. Varun Goswami, WCS India scientist and elephant biologist. Charcoal has toxin-binding properties that may provide the animals medicinal value. Charcoal can also serve as a laxative, thereby doubling its utility for animals that consume it after forest fires, lightning strikes, or controlled burns.
IBTimes UK
Published on Mar 23, 2018
While visiting camera-trap locations as part of a long-term project to study tigers and their prey populations in Nagaharole National Park in India, WCS scientists and colleagues came upon an elephant displaying unusual behavior. "I believe the elephant may have been trying to ingest wood charcoal," said Dr. Varun Goswami, WCS India scientist and elephant biologist. Charcoal has toxin-binding properties that may provide the animals medicinal value. Charcoal can also serve as a laxative, thereby doubling its utility for animals that consume it after forest fires, lightning strikes, or controlled burns.
From https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/elephant-smoking-video-india-nature-reserve-eating-charcoal-a8272126.html?amp
Elephant caught 'smoking' on camera leaves scientists baffled
Experts unsure over causes of animal's bizarre behaviour at Indian nature reserve
Tom Barnes
Saturday 24 March 2018
Scientists have been left baffled by a wild elephant caught on camera blowing out plumes of smoke while consuming smouldering lumps of charcoal.
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) filmed the female elephant exhibiting the unusual behaviour at Nagahrole National Park in India.
In the video, the mammal can been seen picking up lumps of charcoal with its trunk, placing the coal in its mouth, and exhaling a large cloud of smoke.
...
Experts unsure over causes of animal's bizarre behaviour at Indian nature reserve
Tom Barnes
Saturday 24 March 2018
Scientists have been left baffled by a wild elephant caught on camera blowing out plumes of smoke while consuming smouldering lumps of charcoal.
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) filmed the female elephant exhibiting the unusual behaviour at Nagahrole National Park in India.
In the video, the mammal can been seen picking up lumps of charcoal with its trunk, placing the coal in its mouth, and exhaling a large cloud of smoke.
...
More at link.
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