Elephant
The Elephant is the world’s largest land mammal. It can grow to 11 feet at the shoulder and weigh in excess of 7 tons! There are 3 different species- the African Bush Elephant, the African Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant. As their names suggest, they are found on the continents of both Africa and Asia, with females living in large groups with their calves while male bulls either live alone or with other males once they reach puberty.
All Elephants bear distinctive features including a long trunk, large ear flaps, thick skin, massive legs, as well as tusks, which are actually teeth. They can live up to 70 years in the wild, and males can take up to 40 years to reach their full size. Newborn calves can stand after just a few hours, and can join and keep up with their herd within two days.
Elephants spend nearly three quarters of their day eating, and consume massive amounts of vegetation- over 300 pounds a DAY! Given their voracious appetites, they are constantly roaming in search of new food sources, and prefer to stay near a water source whenever possible.
Sadly, nearly 90% of the World’s Elephant population has been wiped out in the last century, and this is directly the result of humans killing them for their highly valued ivory tusks or by having their migration routed altered and destroyed by settlements and agriculture.
All Elephants bear distinctive features including a long trunk, large ear flaps, thick skin, massive legs, as well as tusks, which are actually teeth. They can live up to 70 years in the wild, and males can take up to 40 years to reach their full size. Newborn calves can stand after just a few hours, and can join and keep up with their herd within two days.
Elephants spend nearly three quarters of their day eating, and consume massive amounts of vegetation- over 300 pounds a DAY! Given their voracious appetites, they are constantly roaming in search of new food sources, and prefer to stay near a water source whenever possible.
Sadly, nearly 90% of the World’s Elephant population has been wiped out in the last century, and this is directly the result of humans killing them for their highly valued ivory tusks or by having their migration routed altered and destroyed by settlements and agriculture.