Question 1: Why do elephants take mud baths?
- To cool down and protect their skin from the sun
- To blend into their environment
- They like the smell
Correct Answer: To cool down and protect their skin from the sun
Fact: Elephants use their trunks to spray water and dust over their bodies, creating layers of mud to cool off and protect themselves from the blazing sun. The wet dirt also helps to shoo away bugs and ticks from their skin.
Question 2: What is the current conservation status of the Asian elephant?
- Endangered
- Near Threatened
- Vulnerable
Correct Answer: Endangered
Fact: Asian elephants are endangered according to the IUCN Red List. It is believed that less than 50,000 Asian elephants live in their natural habitat. Sadly, all three of the recognised elephant species are listed as endangered or, in the case of the African forest elephant, critically endangered.
Question 3: Amboseli National Park is at the base of which mountain?
- Mount Baker
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Mount Kenya
Correct Answer: Mount Kilimanjaro
Fact: Amboseli National Park in Kenya lies at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, which sits just over the border in neighboring Tanzania. The snow-capped mountain holds some impressive records. It is over 19,000 feet tall, which makes it the highest peak in Africa and the tallest free-standing peak—meaning it's not part of a mountain range—in the world.