Elephant

 

Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. They are an impressive sight

across Africa and parts of Asia. There are two main species of elephant and these

are the African elephant and the Asian elephant.

FACTS

• Elephants are the world’s largest land animals and one of our most iconic species.
• In Africa, the elephant population has declined from 5-10 million in 1930 to around 500,000 today. Over 20,000 elephants are poached every year. Equally troubling, Asian elephants have seen their numbers decline from 200,000 to roughly 40,000 over the course of the last century.97 Only 2500 Sumatran elephants are left on earth. This map shows the distribution of African elephants, while this map pinpoints the locations of Asian elephants.
• Why do people say that elephants never forget? Elephant brains weigh almost 5 kilograms, the largest of any land animal, which gives them extraordinary memory storage and recall.
• Elephants are one of the few animals on earth that can recognize themselves in a mirror—which means that they have a sense of self, distinct from others!
• Elephants have saved humans from drowning!
• Elephants are capable of complex thoughts and deep feelings, including love, anger, and sadness.98 For instance, when two elephants are reunited, it is a highly emotional occasion. The greeting ceremony begins with exuberance and drama, concluding with expressions of what humans would describe as utter joy.99
• Elephants’ sight is relatively poor, so they rely on smell and sound to guide their decisions, which explains their long and sensitive trunks.

African Elephants 

African elephants are the largest of all elephants. There are two different types of African elephants: the forest elephant and the savannah elephant (also known as the bush elephant). We know a lot about savannah elephants because they live in wide, open areas which make them easier to study. They live in herds that contain female elephants and their children. Amazingly, herds of over 100 savannah elephants have been recorded. These herds are led by a matriarch who is usually the oldest and largest female elephant. The forest elephant is more difficult to study because they live in areas that are full of trees. To work out how many forest elephants there are in one area, researchers count the number of elephant droppings on the ground.

Asian Elephants

Asian elephants are smaller than African elephants. They have smaller ears and the shape of their head is different; Asian elephants have two small bumps at the top of their head. There are several types of Asian elephant which include the Sumatran elephant and the Indian elephant. Unlike African elephants, female Asian elephants do not grow long tusks. They also live in smaller herds which contain around seven female elephants.

Are Elephants Endangered?

Over the years, many places have seen a drop in the number of wild elephants. This is for a number of reasons, such as losing their habitat and illegal poaching. As a result, Asian elephants are listed as an endangered species. This means that they are thought to be at risk of becoming extinct. African elephants are listed as vulnerable. Although this means that they are less likely to become extinct, there is still some worry about their future.

Elephant Tusks

Most elephants grow tusks. These are long teeth that continue to grow throughout their entire life. Elephants use their tusks to help them with lots of different tasks. For example, tusks can be used to scrape bark from trees or to lift heavy objects. These impressive tusks are made of ivory, which is incredibly strong and hard-wearing. Unfortunately, this makes their ivory tusks a tempting product for poachers to collect or sell. Recently, many countries have passed laws that ban the buying and selling of ivory. It is hoped that these laws will help to protect elephant populations before they become extinct. Just like humans can be left-handed or right-handed, elephants can be left-tusked or right-tusked. Take a look at the photo above. Can you see that one of the elephant’s tusks is shorter than the other? This is because they are right-tusked and their right tusk has been worn down with use.