Mud baths offer elephants a natural form of protection against environmental challenges. When the mud dries on their skin, it creates a thick, protective layer that serves as a barrier.

The millions of micrometer-wide fractures in elephants’ skin retain mud and water after mud baths, helping the animals stay hydrated between trips to the water hole. Evaporation from the mud and ...

It is admittedly a tiny amount of water, but it’s water no less. Elephants use water and mud to help cool off — mud also acts as insect repellant and sunscreen. From the jump, 10-year-old ...