9/5/2003: Mom and daughter elephants

Undertoad · 09-05-2003, 11:51 AM

We've had a lot of elephants but this is a particularly pleasant and calming shot. Mom is named Shanthi, baby Kandula. They live at the Smithsonians's National Zoological Park in Washington, DC.

Remember Indian 'phants have small ears, African 'phants have big ears.

Dagney · 09-05-2003, 12:19 PM

UT..

Is there any backstory on this one? I seem to remeber a story about an elephant birth in the past few months, but I can't find it anywhere.

Dagney

Undertoad · 09-05-2003, 12:32 PM

I don't think so... the caption information didn't have anything much.

Dagney · 09-05-2003, 12:39 PM

Thanks anyway!

Dagney

daniwong · 09-05-2003, 12:52 PM

Can I just say aaaaawwwwww! How cute is this picture!!!

lhand · 09-05-2003, 01:01 PM

Is it just me, or does it look like they're drowning these elephants?

Beletseri · 09-05-2003, 01:39 PM

It looks to me like the dome part of the top of the head gets bigger proportionally in the mature elephant. Does this mean its brain grows relatively larger or is that padding? Usually in mammals the young ones have proportionally large heads relative to bodies which is one of those things that make us think all baby mammals are cute.

juju · 09-05-2003, 02:17 PM

It looks like you're right. According to this link:<blockquote>Interestingly, the growth and development of the elephant's brain is similar to that of mans. Both the elephant and man are born with small brain masses. The mass of the new-born elephant's brain is 35% of that of the adult, while Mans is 26%. Thus, there is considerable growth and development as the calf grows up. As the mass of the brain increases, so does the learning ability of young elephants.</blockquote>Interestingly, our own brains are thought to be large in relation to our body as a result of our ancestors learning to walk upright. The opening in our pubic bone had to be smaller to in order to maintain our new center of gravity, and our babies had to be born with underdeveloped brains in order to fit through it. This, of course, freed the babies' brain to grow much larger than it was previously able to.

Completly unrelated, but I find it interesting, anyway. :)

xoxoxoBruce · 09-05-2003, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Remember Indian 'phants have small ears, African 'phants have big ears.

Isn't that big ears and bigger ears.

I have a tough time using the words small and elephants together.

elSicomoro · 09-05-2003, 04:48 PM

Eh, Tony...Kandula is a boy.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-05-2003, 05:23 PM

C'mon, way too young for a sex change.

Torrere · 09-05-2003, 05:57 PM

Unfortunately, trying to force babies with big heads through small holes is dangerous. This is why, through history, so many women have died during childbirth.

Griff · 09-05-2003, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sycamore
Eh, Tony...Kandula is a boy.

Just more biased unfair reporting from Tony.

Undertoad · 09-05-2003, 08:32 PM

If AFP can't get this right what else do they get wrong?

xoxoxoBruce · 09-05-2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Torrere
Unfortunately, trying to force babies with big heads through small holes is dangerous. This is why, through history, so many women have died during childbirth.

That being true, I wonder how some Cellarites got squose.

09-05-2003, 11:51 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	9/5/2003: Mom and daughter elephants We've had a lot of elephants but this is a particularly pleasant and calming shot. Mom is named Shanthi, baby Kandula. They live at the Smithsonians's National Zoological Park in Washington, DC. Remember Indian 'phants have small ears, African 'phants have big ears.

09-05-2003, 12:39 PM	#4
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	Thanks anyway! Dagney __________________ The Constitution gives every American the right to make a total fool out of himself. But that doesn't mean you need to.

09-05-2003, 12:52 PM	#5
daniwong Vice-President of Resentment Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 196	Can I just say aaaaawwwwww! How cute is this picture!!! __________________ Mistress of all that is claim related.

09-05-2003, 01:01 PM	#6
lhand Dry Nurse Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 23	And as the tank slowly filled with water.... Is it just me, or does it look like they're drowning these elephants?

09-05-2003, 05:23 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	C'mon, way too young for a sex change. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-05-2003, 12:19 PM	#2
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	UT.. Is there any backstory on this one? I seem to remeber a story about an elephant birth in the past few months, but I can't find it anywhere. Dagney

09-05-2003, 12:32 PM	#3
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I don't think so... the caption information didn't have anything much.

09-05-2003, 01:39 PM	#7
Beletseri Yeah sez you Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 206	It looks to me like the dome part of the top of the head gets bigger proportionally in the mature elephant. Does this mean its brain grows relatively larger or is that padding? Usually in mammals the young ones have proportionally large heads relative to bodies which is one of those things that make us think all baby mammals are cute.

09-05-2003, 02:17 PM	#8
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	It looks like you're right. According to this link:<blockquote>Interestingly, the growth and development of the elephant's brain is similar to that of mans. Both the elephant and man are born with small brain masses. The mass of the new-born elephant's brain is 35% of that of the adult, while Mans is 26%. Thus, there is considerable growth and development as the calf grows up. As the mass of the brain increases, so does the learning ability of young elephants.</blockquote>Interestingly, our own brains are thought to be large in relation to our body as a result of our ancestors learning to walk upright. The opening in our pubic bone had to be smaller to in order to maintain our new center of gravity, and our babies had to be born with underdeveloped brains in order to fit through it. This, of course, freed the babies' brain to grow much larger than it was previously able to. Completly unrelated, but I find it interesting, anyway. :)

09-05-2003, 04:48 PM	#10
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Eh, Tony...Kandula is a boy.

09-05-2003, 05:57 PM	#12
Torrere a real smartass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,121	Unfortunately, trying to force babies with big heads through small holes is dangerous. This is why, through history, so many women have died during childbirth.

09-05-2003, 08:32 PM	#14
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	If AFP can't get this right what else do they get wrong?

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