Elephant legs bend like ‘big human limb’

Mechanics suggest creatures more limber than thought

View a video of a running elephant that participated in the study.

BORN TO WALK Elephant’s knees are bendier than scientists thought, making walking easy but running hard work. John R. Hutchinson

Elephants cruise on four-wheel drive and bendy knees using a gait different from most quadrupeds, a new study shows.