Last month, I visited The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald,Tennessee where I took these photos. I knew these elephant facts; but seeing actual models makes it easier to comprehend.
Elephants have very delicate bone structure in their feet. It's almost as if they are standing on tip toes when they walk.
Abuse including being chained by circuses, walking huge distances on concrete in cities where they perform, living in small concrete enclosures in zoos, or carrying heavy things like teak farming or people riding on their backs causes major problems and pain. It is one of the main reasons veterinarians occasionally euthanize them after attempting everything else first to ease their pain.