Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
ELEPHANT PEDICURES! đ Elephants are known for their size, strength, and impressive trunks. But their feet are actually one of the most important parts of their body, so caring for our elephantsâ feet is an essential part of our zoologistsâ work.
The skin on an elephantâs foot pad grows continuously, so our zoologists try to treat each elephant's feet at least once a week, working in a barn behind the scenes and using trained behaviors that keep our zoologists and elephants safe and comfortable throughout the care.
An elephant "pedicure" entails a general cleaning and inspection, trimming the nails so the elephant doesnât put pressure on them while walking, and then attending to the pad of the foot by checking for and removing any rocks, filing down excess skin, and removing skin flaps.
The zoologists also assess which feet need attention, so the team doesnât always care for all four feet in the same visit. Our zoologists are usually able to get the work done in 15 minutes or less for each foot. The elephants are given food to enjoy while receiving their relaxing pedicures, and most usually donât seem to mind the treatment. They focus on the snacks and enjoy the attention while we keep their feet healthy!
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Engaging People & Saving Wildlife
ELEPHANT PEDICURES! đ Elephants are known for their size, strength, and impressive trunks. But their feet are actually one of the most important parts of their body, so caring for our elephantsâ feet is an essential part of our zoologistsâ work.
The skin on an elephantâs foot pad grows continuously, so our zoologists try to treat each elephant's feet at least once a week, working in a barn behind the scenes and using trained behaviors that keep our zoologists and elephants safe and comfortable throughout the care.
An elephant "pedicure" entails a general cleaning and inspection, trimming the nails so the elephant doesnât put pressure on them while walking, and then attending to the pad of the foot by checking for and removing any rocks, filing down excess skin, and removing skin flaps.
The zoologists also assess which feet need attention, so the team doesnât always care for all four feet in the same visit. Our zoologists are usually able to get the work done in 15 minutes or less for each foot. The elephants are given food to enjoy while receiving their relaxing pedicures, and most usually donât seem to mind the treatment. They focus on the snacks and enjoy the attention while we keep their feet healthy!
⥠Subscribe: bit.ly/SubscribeDallasZooTube
Follow the Dallas Zoo:
Official Site: bit.ly/DallasZooOfficialSite
Facebook: bit.ly/DallasZooFacebook
Instagram: bit.ly/DallasZooInstagram
Twitter: twitter.com/dallaszoo
TikTok: tiktok.com/@dallaszooofficial
Engaging People & Saving Wildlife
