Incredible footage of an elephant picking up ash with its trunk and breathing smoke has been captured, stunning onlookers and experts. The video, taken by Vinay Kumar, Assistant Director with the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS)-India Program, stumped the organization's scientists as to why the elephant is showing off the unusual behavior. Dr. Varun Goswami, a scientist at WCS India and an elephant biologist, attempted to explain the elephant's actions. “I believe the elephant may have been trying to ingest wood charcoal,” said Dr. Goswami in a press release. It's possible the elephant may have been using the charcoal for health-related issues, as it has toxin-binding properties that can provide medicinal value.
Source: Fox News March 22, 2018 19:52 UTC