• SomeoneElse
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    11 months ago

    I did a bit of googling. At temps below 6C or 42F, elephants are at risk of frostbite. Thinner elephants are more at risk. I assume mistreated, very young, elderly and sick elephants are more vulnerable, like humans. In the wild, healthy adult elephants huddle together for warmth.

    India is absolutely massive and in the north you have the Himalayan mountains. Temps drop as low as -45C, -42F in some areas. Elephants do live in the Himalayas, but I assume not at high altitude/in the coldest parts.

    • Astongt615@lemmy.one
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      11 months ago

      Frostbite at 6C? Sounds a bit hyperbolic, so I will assume you mean the lower comfort temperature threshold which seems totally reasonable, as does the idea that many parts of elephant-inhabited India get to temps below that in the cold seasons. Thanks for the info! Also duh, Himalayas. Totally forgot about those, even if the elephants aren’t exactly summiting them.