In captivity, their diet may come in a nutritionally complete pellet form. Variety offers the elephants enrichment. Elephants need to consume up to 500 lbs. The skin around the inner ear, mouth and anus is the only skin which is not thick. Elephants are also covered sparsely with bristle-hair.
Babies have more hair at birth.
Elephants are usually gray in color, but sometimes they appear reddish or brown, due to wallowing in mudholes. Elephants enjoy a good bath every day and this is usually followed by a trip to the mudhole. They cover themselves with mud to protect themselves from the sun and insects. Elephants are social animals with strong family ties. They usually live in herds with mothers and calves, run by a matriarch.