Are Fast-Moving Elephants Really Running?

John Hutchinson

Are fast moving elephants really running?

Images and Movies From Our Research On Fast-Moving Elephants

Please ask for permission before using any of these media, and in all cases we ask that due credit be given as listed.

Movies

1. Big

This 17 year old male “tusker” elephant was appropriately named, as he was among the largest elephants we worked with in Thailand, at about 2800 kg (6100 lbs.). He and Nong Pop (below) had a friendly competition going for two days during our experiments, repeatedly beating each others’ times. We had thought Pop had won, until recently we re-analyzed our video of one of what we thought was a slower trial for Big. It turned out to be the winner actually, at 6.8 m/s (15 mph; 24 kph), beating out Pop’s fastest time by a nose. (Credit for images: John R. Hutchinson

“Big” walking (Quicktime movie file, 1722 kb)

“Big” fast: 6.8 m/s (15 mph; 24 kph) (Quicktime movie file, 627 kb)

Here are alternative, not-so-smooth versions of the same movies that may work for different computers:

“Big” walking (Quicktime movie; 3548 kb)

“Big” fast: 6.8 m/s (15 mph; 24 kph) (Quicktime movie; 1245 kb)

“Big” walking (Microsoft .avi movie; 2300 kb)

“Big” fast: 6.8 m/s (15 mph; 24 kph) (Microsoft .avi movie; 800 kb)

(If you have PC problems with the Indeo codec, you may need to download a new one; instructions for Macs here)

2. Nong Pop

The female elephant Nong Pop, at Surin, Thailand, was at the time of our studies about 7 years old. The movie included here is one of our fastest recorded trials with any elephant. Nong Pop particularly seemed to enjoy the “races”; she had to be firmly held back or she would start moving before we were ready. She needed little if any encouragement and went straight for the 30 meter course when released; it was difficult to get her to agree to walk slowly! She broke away at least once, chasing behind our fastest elephant “Big” and getting lots of laughs, plus one of her fastest times! (Credit for images: John R. Hutchinson

Steady walk (Quicktime movie; 3183 kb)

Fast: 6.6 m/s (15 mph; 24 kph) (Quicktime movie; 618 kb)

3. 3D animations

We’ve also had the pleasure of meeting a computer animator, Karen Johnson from the Savannah College of Art and Design, who has used our videos as inspiration to design amusing 3D movies of elephants moving at slow, fast, and ridiculously fast (airborne; fantasy only) speeds. You can visit her website at: http://www.paintedthorn.com.

Walking elephant (Quicktime movie; 1645 kb)

Fast elephant (Quicktime movie; 760 kb)

Airborne elephant (watch closely; it has 4 feet off the ground -- not from a real video, just imagined) (Quicktime movie; 885 kb)