This is true, however not a constant occurrence in sleeping elephants. Elephants have been known generally at night to sleep lying down for a couple of hours, however they have also been known to sleep standing up at times. During the day they might be seen standing, taking short naps. Altogether they sleep for about six hours per day.
Because elephants must always be completely alert and aware of their surroundings in the wild, to protect themselves and their young from predators such as lions, they have been known to sleep standing up at times. Sometimes an elephant will lay down for a couple of hours to sleep, although baby elephants are more likely to do this than adult elephants.
Generally most adult elephants that are seen asleep standing up might be just taking a quick nap, or could even be sick. One could say it typically depends on their environment. For instance, If elephants are in kept in an environment such as a zoo where hungry predators are not around, they may be more likely to sleep standing up than say, an elephant who lives in the wild and has lots of predators around.
Anre says
February 13, 2015 at 6:12 pmGreat article. Short and to the point.
I’m no expert, but I would suggest that you review the following:
1) For instance, If elephants - the “If” should be lower case “if”
2) For instance, If elephants are in kept in an environment - the first “in” in this clause is an error.
3) For instance, If elephants are in kept in an environment such as a zoo where hungry predators are not around, they may be more likely to sleep standing up than say, an elephant who lives in the wild and has lots of predators around. - from the rest of your article and some other research I did, I think you mean either “they are more likely to sleep lying down than say,…” or “they are less likely to sleep standing up than say,….”
Sincerely yours,
Anre
Sherry says
September 9, 2015 at 4:22 amI thought the same things. It made no sense that they would sleep standing up when more relaxed.
Good job!
care says
November 4, 2015 at 7:36 pmI understood the answer quite clearly and accepted the typo as a typo. To me it is not a big deal. As for the comments- not sure what to make of them. Certainly this is not grammar school and if you have to correct people “sincerely,” it makes me sad for you. Perhaps you should refrain in future. I for one really like this site and the fact that I’m receiving information free- makes me too grateful to disrespect the person that gave it!
John says
June 17, 2017 at 1:12 amSo correcting someone online is now considered as being wrong. No wonder we have so many illiterate people online today.
Sharon peterson says
October 9, 2015 at 6:55 pmAll the facts are not displayed here. Elephant don’t lay down as a rule because not only predation, but they are so big, they can literally suffocate to death by their own weight. A horse being down more than two hours is great Alarm to any horse owner, the suffer the same problems along with circulation into their legs.