The Oklahoma Today Podcast, August 28, 2023

August is Asian Elephant Awareness Month all over the country and around the world, so Oklahoma City Zoo's Rachel Emory stops by the Oklahoma Today podcast to talk about the differences between Asian and African elephants, why Asian elephants are facing a battle against extinction, and a few ways to help right here in Oklahoma.

In addition to signing up for a Wild Encounter at the zoo, in which people can interact with Asian elephants and learn more about their lives, the zoo has partnered with Capitals Ice Cream in Midtown for a special flavor that raises money for elephant conservation through the end of August.

Want to impress friends and family with your elephant knowledge? Here are a few facts to help stun them: There are no bones in an elephant's trunk, but it is packed full of muscle. Despite what cartoons tell you, elephants don't drink with their trunks, though they do use them to suck up water and spray it into their mouths. There are three ways to tell Asian elephants apart from their African relatives: Asian elephants have two bumps on their heads, while African elephants have a smooth dome; Asian elephants have smaller ears, which help them traverse forests without getting caught on trees; African elephants have two opposable "thumbs" at the end of their trunks while Asian elephants only have one.

Also on the podcast, the editors ponder which zoo animals they'd like to make friends with and hear from commenters on social media about their preferred zoo acquaintances. Follow Oklahoma Today on Facebook and Instagram to take part in the conversation.

Podvents from this episode come, as always, from TravelOK.com. Here's what the editors discussed:

The Oklahoma Today Podcast is sponsored by Bravado Wireless.

Catch up with back episodes of the Oklahoma Today Podcast here.