Elephants use mud and dust as a natural sunscreen to protect their skin.

While an elephant's skin can be up to 2.5 centimeters thick in certain areas, it lacks sweat glands and is highly susceptible to solar radiation. Research conducted by the University of Geneva and the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics highlights that elephants have a complex network of tiny, interconnecting cracks in their skin. These channels retain five to ten times more water than a flat surface, helping the animal regulate its body temperature through evaporation.To enhance this cooling mechanism, elephants perform 'wallowing' behaviors in mud and dirt. The mud acts as a physical sunblock, reflecting harmful ultraviolet rays that would otherwise cause painful burns and long-term tissue damage. This layer also serves as a biological shield against parasitic insects like ticks and biting flies, which find it difficult to penetrate the dried crust.In 2018, studies published in the journal 'Nature Communications' detailed how these skin features are essential for survival in hot African and Asian climates. Without regular mud baths, elephants would face severe dehydration and heat stroke during peak daylight hours. The dust they toss over their backs further assists in drying the mud into a durable, protective shell that remains effective for several hours.