Billy stands next to the fence with his foot up so Keeper Scott Haist can smooth the cracks in his feet. Principal Animal Keeper Jeff Briscoe offers carrots as a thank you for Billy's cooperation. They both stand on their toes. It may seem peculiar, but this anatomical anomaly is true.
Elephants hold their entire weight on their toes.
And that's a lot of pressure. The bottom of an elephant's foot is covered with a thick pad, not so much like a palm as like webbing between a flamingo's toes. On an elephant, this padding is composed of thick, calloused skin, and it takes a beating with every step the elephant takes. And yet these cracks and cuts and imbedded rocks can go unnoticed if keepers are not vigilant about caring for the elephants' feet. A small crack can grow and get infected, becoming extremely difficult to treat.