How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces. They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks （象牙）， and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families, They drink only every 3-4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needeD． Desert elephants are careful feeders-they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Yong elephants may even eat the dung （粪便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine （尿液）to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.

一个体重超过五吨，每天要消耗150公斤食物和120公升水的生物，怎样能在沙漠环境中生存呢？
在非洲西南部的国家纳米比亚和马利北部的沙哈拉大沙漠里的沙漠大象，就这样生存着。
虽然没有被视作是非洲象的一个独立的分类，这个沙漠同族在很多地方与非洲象并不相同。他们的身体小一些，以减少吸热，他们的脚掌更大一些以便于在沙体表面行走。他们更高一些，以便伸到更高的树枝。他们的象牙比较短，最重要的是，他们的鼻子比较长以发掘河床里的水。
沙漠大象可以穿行70公里以寻找需摄取的食物和水源，他们又一个较大的生活群体，他们3-4天才喝一次水，并能够将水储存在他们喉咙后部的一个“袋子”里，只在非常需要的时候取出使用。沙漠大象是非常仔细的觅食者-他们很少根除树木，很少这段树枝，从而保证稀少的食物来源一直可利用。年轻的大象在食物短缺时，甚至会吃母性领头者的粪便。
在干旱的季节，他们不太可能会生育后代，但是在充足的雨季，他们的生育率会大大的提高。沙漠大象进行沙浴，有时候会在身体上加上尿液是他们变得很泥泞。
由于我们持续的使我们脆弱的星球不断过热，我们只能期望其他的生物种类能够像沙漠大象一样适应极端的变化。