Eyesight Plays Key Role in Elephants’ Balance, Study Finds

A new study published in the scientific journal Biology Letters reveals the impact that elephants’ vision has on their balance. The study was authored by Max Kurz and John Hutchinson. Dr. Kurz is a neuroscientist and physiologist. Dr. Hutchinson is a professor of evolutionary biometrics. By blindfolding trained Asian elephants, the two researchers were able to test their hypothesis that these large creatures rely heavily on their eyesight to maintain their balance. The experiment was carried out with Asian elephants who have been trained as animal actors for movies and television shows. The elephants came from Have Trunk Will Travel, an animal training company that has been accused of animal cruelty in the past. 

Large animals, like elephants, can suffer more significant physical damage as a result of falls. Research suggests that the bigger an animal is, the more likely they are to suffer serious consequences from a fall. Internal injuries caused by a fall may even prove fatal for elephants. Since maintaining balance is so important to these creatures, scientists wondered what balancing mechanisms elephants employed. 

Special blindfolds were created for the elephants. Then, sensors were attached to their feet and torsos. These sensors allowed the team to monitor the elephants’ movements. To test their balance with and without the use of sight, the researchers and trainers had the elephants walk in pairs along a path. One elephant walked in front, while the other walked behind. The elephant in the posterior position held onto the tail of the front elephant with their trunk. Researchers measured the difference between walks where the following elephant was blindfolded and walks where the following elephant had their vision intact. 

Data from the experiment suggests that the elephants’ balance was impacted by the blindfolds. The timing of the blindfolded elephants’ footfalls was affected. Additionally, some elephants had greater difficulty taking consistent strides. After collecting this data, the study’s authors suggest that elephants’ vision is crucial to their balance. 

While the data from this experiment provides an interesting insight into the elephant’s biology, the experiment’s methods are not without fault. The company, Have Trunk Will Travel, which provided the trained elephants has been accused of animal abuse in the past. They have been filmed using electric prods and bullhooks to force elephants to perform. Additionally, they have been accused of stealing young elephants from the wild and confining them unnaturally. Indeed, the company moved its operations from California to Texas after California banned the use of bullhooks. 

Learning more about how animals experience the world is scientifically valid and interesting. Indeed, it can give humans a deeper understanding and appreciation for our fellow animals. However, no animal, human or otherwise, deserves to be treated with cruelty, experimented on, or otherwise abused. 

Sign this petition to Protect Captive Elephants from Cruelty!

Animals Are My Favorite People by Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• Study Finds Elephants Call Each Other By Name
• Protecting Elephants and Fruit-Eaters Benefits Our Climate
• Elephants Domesticating Themselves: A Surprising Twist in Evolution
• Study Reveals Elephants and Tigers as Top Choices for Brits Seeking Wildlife Encounters
• Puerto Rico’s Only Elephant to Be Relocated to Elephant Sanctuary in Georgia

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!