10 Elephant Coloring Pages So Fun You'll Never Forget 'Em
What’s not to love about elephants? Weighing between 8,000 to 16,000 pounds, they’re the world’s largest land animal, and one of the most unique-looking animals too. Thanks to their characteristically long trunks, floppy ears (hello, Dumbo!), and five-inch long eyelashes, everything about these spectacular animals is big, beautiful, and fun — and for all of those reasons, we couldn’t resist creating a bunch of free elephant coloring pages. Want to know more? Of course you do! But before we break out our crayons for some coloring fun, let’s learn a little more about our elephant friends.
Elephants have one of the most intricate (and feminist) social networks in the animal kingdoms. An experienced lady elephant, a.k.a. the matriarchal head, leads the herd with the other female elephants babysitting each other’s calves. They form lifelong friendships with each other and are known to mourn when a member of the herd passes. Male elephants live a predominantly nomadic and solitary life. When a male elephant grows up, he will leave his mother’s herd and will live an independent lifestyle or carry on with a male-only herd.
Then there’s the matter of memory. How can we forget that elephants never forget?! Such a trait would be super helpful if you’re someone who needs a gentle reminder when it comes to birthdays, what to buy for dinner, and where you put your car keys. It’s no wonder that elephants have been revered throughout history and have become cultural icons thanks to Dumbo, The Jungle Book, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, and Babar.
So, on a rainy afternoon, cozy up and create your own very favorite elephant. And when you’re finished with these precious pachyderms, march on over to our other free printables — we’ve got everything from unicorn coloring pages and princess coloring pages to flower coloring pages and spring coloring pages.
Free Elephant Coloring Pages
1. Flying Elephant
Do elephants really fly? Well, maybe a “jumbo”-sized bouquet of balloons will help do the trick. If pigs can fly, then we’re sure an elephant can too! This is probably the only way an elephant will ever get off the ground since they’re the only mammals that cannot jump. And fun fact: Elephants aren’t actually afraid of mice. Scientists have discovered they’re more afraid of the sudden movements mice make than the mouse itself.
2. Happy Elephant
What’s cuter than a happy-go-lucky elephant that also happens to be spotted? There are endless color combinations that will fit this smiley guy. And don’t forget his hair. Will it match the tail or not? The choice is yours. Fun fact: Some elephant trumpet calls are so low, humans can’t even hear them. Elephants can also communicate through vibrations in the ground called seismic signals, which they can “hear” through their bones. (Woah.) If you ever take a trip to the wild, you may see baby elephants sucking their trunks. This is the same as human babies sucking their thumb. It’s a form of comfort.
3. Lucky Elephant
Look at the size of the trunk and tusks on this one! Also, is it us, or is this elephant flexing his trunk? Although for an elephant who’s quite large (look at the size of those ears), he sure has a tiny tail. No matter, though. Have fun adding a variety of shades to this cute, lucky fella. And did you know elephants can also be righties and lefties? They usually favor one tusk over the other to pick up items.
4. Mandala Elephant No. 1
So many pretty patterns and florals with this majestic creature! In many cultures, including China, India, and Africa, the elephant is a symbol of power, dignity, intelligence, and peace. What are some powerful and peaceful colors you might add to this picture? And did you know elephants were trained to play baseball in the Barnum and Bailey circus?
5. Mandala Elephant No. 2
Can you even believe the gorgeous details of this elephant? A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. How does this elephant represent the universe to you and your kids? How would you paint and decorate it?
6. Safari Elephant
This cutie has the smallest legs an elephant could have, but he doesn’t seem to care! He’s happy to be out in nature. What else would you include in this safari scene? Maybe a giraffe? Some birds and flowers? Or a rock hyrax? Do you have a cousin who you look nothing alike? Well, elephants have the same problem. They are closely related to the rock hyrax, which is a small furry mammal that looks a lot like a groundhog.
7. Indian Elephant
India has regarded the elephant as its cultural symbol for many centuries. In Hinduism, the elephant is represented by Lord Ganesha, who is said to be a remover of obstacles and a provider of fortune and good luck. This elephant might have the weight of flowers on its shoulders, but it can definitely handle it. Which bright shades would you include in this fun pic?
8. Cartoon Elephant
A cartoon elephant calls for some silly colors. Skip the gray and go for something funny, like pink or blue or red. You can even color its chubby belly orange! Speaking of full bellies, did you know elephants spend about three-quarters of their day eating? They can consume up to 330 pounds of food! Elephants may be enormous animals, but they can still run pretty fast — up to 25 miles per hour to be exact.
9. Decorated Elephant
This depiction of the revered elephant is quite beautiful, don’t you think? During the Elephant Festival, which occurs in Jaipur every year, the stunning animals are decorated with jewelry and given majestic multicolor makeovers. Just check out this beauty’s nose! Can you believe there are about 150,000 muscle units in an elephant’s trunk?
10. Baby Elephant
This sweet baby elephant makes us say, “Awwww!” In reality, though, baby elephants aren’t small. An elephant baby, or a calf, is usually born at about 250 pounds and three feet tall (yes, really). This makes sense since African elephants are the largest land mammal in the world. Baby elephants are also pretty clumsy for the first three months of their lives, often tripping over their trunks. And just look at those ears! Fun fact: An easy way to tell the difference between an African elephant and an Asian elephant is through their ears. African elephants’ ears are shaped like the continent of Africa. And Asian elephants have smaller ears that are shaped like India. Wild, right?
Click here to print all of the elephant coloring pages at once!
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