Elephants can sleep both standing up and lying down. However, researchers have discovered that elephants in captivity tend to sleep more lying down than elephants in the wild. Elephants in the wild sleep more time standing up because it is easier for them to move. Since elephants are so large, it takes them much longer to get up. To protect one another from potential dangers, a herd of wild elephants sleeps in groups. Typically, one group of elephants will sleep while another group of elephants stays awake. The elephants that remain awake will watch for danger and warn the sleeping elephants of any potential dangers.
