A strange video of 'smoking' elephant confuses researchers

A bizarre video captured a wild white elephant breathing out smoke in Nagarhole National Park in India that has left the viewers startled.

The footage, recorded by a staff member for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) India program, shows the female mammal picking up something, probably lumps of charcoal, with its trunk, stuffing its mouth with it and then blowing out a large cloud of smoke.

Video Credits: WCS India Program

“I believe the elephant may have been trying to ingest wood charcoal. She appeared to be picking up pieces from the forest floor, blowing away the ash that came along with it, and consuming the rest,” said Dr. Varun Goswami a scientist at WCS India, quoted Fox News while explaining the elephant’s unusual behavior.

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According to India Today, WCS further explains that since charcoal absorbs toxins, the elephant was consuming it because of heath concerns.

Moreover, Nagarhole National Park is a wildlife reserve located in the South Indian state of Karnataka that contains various threatened species including Asian elephants, Indian bison and tigers. WCS members were visiting as part of their long term project to study tigers.