Elephants

Today we are looking at elephants which are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.

African elephants are the largest land animals, with males reaching up to 13 feet tall and weighing up to 14,000 pounds. 

The trunk is a multi-functional organ, used for breathing, smelling, touching, drinking, and even as a tool for digging and grabbing.

They have tusks, which are actually elongated incisor teeth that grow throughout their lives. 

While their skin is thick, it’s also sensitive and elephants often use mud and dust to protect themselves from the sun and insects. 

They are known to have an exceptional memory and are known to remember individuals and locations for years. 

They live in close-knit herds, primarily led by older females, and communicate through various vocalizations and body language. 

They communicate using a range of sounds, including trumpeting and infrasound, which can travel long distances.

African elephants are pregnant for an average of 22 months, whilst for Asian elephants it’s 18 to 22 months.¹ You might think such a long pregnancy is because of what huge creatures they are – but you’d only be partly correct. Baby elephants do develop slowly in the womb because of their physical size but also because of the size of their intellect.

Baby elephants can stand and walk within minutes of birth, and they stay close to their mothers for support and protection. 

Both African and Asian elephants are facing threats from habitat loss and poaching, leading to conservation efforts to protect them. 

They can live almost as long as humans, African elephants have a maximum lifespan of about 74 years, Asian elephants can live to about 80 and the oldest known elephant in the world is thought to be an Asian elephant who lived to be 89 in captivity.