Their trunks, which are formed by the combination of the elongated nose and upper lip, are also very useful. At the tip are two finger-like extensions which are very sensitive and can be used for precise manipulation of objects. The senses of touch and hearing are acute, but eyesight is somewhat poor. Like other large mammals, elephants are more tolerant of cold than of excessive heat. They spend the hottest part of the day in the shade, and dissipate heat through their ears, which they flap at different speeds according to how hot they are.
Young elephants follow their mothers or older sisters by holding on to their tails.
When in danger, elephants run with their tails held up, which may signal the danger to the other members of the herd. When a potential predator such as a lion or tiger threatens a calf, the adults form a defensive circle with the calf in the middle. Adult elephants are probably not susceptible to predation by any species other than humans. Habitat Asian elephants mainly use scrub forest, although their habitat can vary. They can be found in the jungle, but generally on the edge where open, grassy areas are accessible.