Dusting Elephant in Guruvayoor, Kerala

Elephants spray water all over their body as bathing seems to be a pleasurable and important activity for them. Besides, to help protect their skin from parasites and biting insects, jumbos wallow in mud or spray dust on their wet skin. Once the mud and dust is dry, elephants rub against a hard surface, removing most parasites.

Shown here is an elephant dusting itself in Anakkotta (elephant camp) also known as Punathurkotta in Guruvayoor, Kerala state, India.