We would like to report that two Asian Elephant at Ueno Zoo, "Surya" (female, estimated 30 years old) and "Arun" (male, 3 years old), both experienced tooth shedding around the same time.

In most mammals, including humans, new teeth grow in from beneath the old ones (vertical replacement). This only happens during the transition from deciduous teeth to permanent teeth.

Elephants, on the other hand, have a system where the molars they are born with are replaced by new molars that grow in from behind, pushing them forward (horizontal replacement). Furthermore, they have five periods of tooth replacement throughout their lives, using one molar at a time in each of their six molars on the upper and lower jaws, left and right.

The uneven surface of the teeth gradually wears down as they grind food, and when they can no longer function properly, the new teeth behind them push out the old teeth in front. Based on their ages, it is estimated that Surya is in his fourth tooth shedding cycle, and Arun is in his first.

On February 16, 2024, Surya lost a tooth in the playground. Upon opening his mouth for examination, it was found that both the left and right upper jaws still contained small, old teeth, so it appears that the tooth that fell out was from his lower jaw.


Surya's missing tooth
Three days later, on February 19th, it seems Arun's teeth had also fallen out. During the oral check we do before he leaves the enclosure in the morning, we noticed that a tooth had fallen out of his upper right jaw. It wasn't as big as Surya's tooth, but if you compare it to the other side, you can see where the tooth is missing.


Inside Arun's mouth
(Red circles: where teeth have fallen out this time, yellow circles: where old teeth remain)
It appears this tooth fell out while Arun was indoors, but we couldn't find the tooth itself. When a dog's teeth are still small, like Arun's, it's often difficult to find a lost tooth because they might swallow it along with their food while eating, or it might get mixed in with bedding or droppings.

Also, when people hear about teeth falling out, many are concerned about whether their pet will be able to eat. It's true that they may seem to have difficulty eating right before their teeth fall out, but once they're gone, they seem to be fine. Currently, they are eating as usual, so please don't worry.

[Ueno Zoo East Garden Animal Care and Exhibition Staff]

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