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African Elephant
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Mammals |
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Africa |
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Africa Savannah |
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Elephantidae |
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4000 K.G to 6000 K.G |
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Forest, savannah, semi-desert plains |
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Grass, leaves, branches |
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22 months |
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1 |
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Lions, crocodiles, hyenas |
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Endangered |
Weighing over 5,000 kg and with only 4 teeth the elephant is
amazing.
Elephants with their colossal stature combined with their
gentle nature have forever struck our imagination. The African Elephant is
today’s largest land mammal. Its size, ivory tusks, long trunk and pillar shaped
legs are unique in the animal kingdom. A male can weigh from 4 to 6 tons (8,000
to 12,000 lbs) and can measure from 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) at the
withers. A female can weigh from 3 to 4 tons (6,000 to 8,000 lbs) and can
measure from 2.5 to 3 metres (8 to 10 feet) at the withers. This species can
live between 60 to 70 years old. Like its name implies, the African Elephant is
confined to the African continent, its distribution spreads from South Africa to
the northern part, at the edge and south of the Sahara desert. It is found in
varied habitats, from tropical forests to semi-desert areas, open plains and
mountains. Elephants live in groups, including females with kinship, as well as
their young. The males live in small groups or are solitary and will go from one
group to another looking for females in heat. Living in an environment where
food is often scarce, elephants must go to great distances looking for food and
water holes. The oldest female of a group, known as the matriarch, is dominant
and has the main responsibility to guide the group to these oasis. The diet
includes a wide variety of plants, fruit, leaves, roots, buds and branches. A
female will have only one young and the gestation period lasts 22 months! An
adult has no predators, except for humans who will hunt it primarily for its
ivory tusks. The African Elephant is an endangered species and is protected
under strict regulations and ivory importation is illegal in most countries.