KidZone Animals
Elephants: Sleep

© written by Tasha Guenther

Elephants sleep lying down, but can occasionally have afternoon naps standing up!

Despite their very large size, elephants only need three to four hours of sleep per day.

As well, male elephants travelling alone will sleep these hours uninterrupted during the evening; male elephants travelling in small groups will sleep in staggered periods--at least one of these elephants will be up at all times; the same goes for the matriarchal herds.