Yes, elephants lie on their sides when they sleep, but they also "cat nap" in a standing position. The best way to tell if elephants are napping is to look at the last few inches of their trunks. Not surprisingly, each elephant is unique in its trunk position while napping, but they share a napping commonality that includes standing nearly perfectly still, eyes closed, head a little drooped, and the end of their trunk totally relaxed on the ground, like a wet noodle—as Tange is demonstrating for you in this photo!
