Species Information

There are are two elephant species in the world, one living in Asia and the other in Africa.

Elephants are rare outside reserves (in this case the Kalahari National Park in South Africa) because of excessive hunting for tusks.

The African Elephant is the largest living land animal (larger than the Asian Elephant). African elephants averagesabout 10 feet (3 m) tall at the shoulder, weighing roughly 6 tons (5,400 kg). Males are larger than females. Both males and females have tusks (large, pointed ivory teeth). They have very thick, wrinkled, gray-brown skin that is almost hairless. And they have large ears (up to 5 feet=1.5 m long) that are shaped like the continent of Africa. The ears not only hear well, but also help the elephant lose excess heat, as hot blood flows near the surface of the skin.

It's natural home range is 500 miles; migratory patterns are taught from one generation to the next. Now they are mostly restricted to parks and preserves. Habitat formerly was area south of the Sahara; agricultural expansion has severely reduced it. Highly adaptable, elephants can survive in forest, bush or savannah.

Elephants have an inefficient digestive system and digest only about 40 per cent of what they eat. They eat enormously. Estimates in the wild range from 100-1000 pounds of vegetation per day (over a 16 hour period). The wild elephant is a destructive eater, uprooting and scattering as much as is eaten, often breaking down whole trees. Elephants eat almost anything green, but green grass, shoots and buds of trees and shrubs are preferred.

This species lives in a complex matriarchal society normally composed of 8 to 15 related members and led by a dominant cow. Three or four generations of cows and calves spend their entire lives together with the exception of males, who leave the group at puberty. Groups of related families stay in fairly close range of each other and communicate often; these are called "kin groups". In times of danger kin groups will mass and form "clans" of 200 or more.

The majority of the skull is honeycombed with sinuses to minimize weight. Tusks are elongated second upper incisors and grow throughout the lifetime. They are used for food gathering and carrying, as well as weapons. The sense of smell is highly sophisticated; they are believed to locate underground water by smelling the earth above. Vision is poor. Hearing is acute.

These elephants have few natural enemies except man and they are in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat and poaching.

Status: Endangered - They are listed on Appendix II of CITES (threatened), and as Endangered by the IUCN.

Information Source: African Wildlife Foundation and National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife

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