About Elephants
Elephant, (family Elephantidae), largest living land animal, characterized by its long trunk (elongated upper lip and nose), columnar legs, and huge head with temporal glands and wide, flat ears. Elephants are grayish to brown in colour, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. They are found most often in savannas, grasslands, and forests but occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, swamps, and highlands in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.
General characteristics
African elephants are the largest animals walking the Earth. Their herds wander through 37 countries in Africa. They are easily recognized by their trunk that is used for communication and handling objects. And their large ears allow them to radiate excess heat. Upper incisor teeth develop into tusks in African elephants and grow throughout their lifetime. There are two species of African elephants—the savanna (or bush) elephant and the forest elephant. Savanna elephants are larger than forest elephants, and their tusks curve outwards. In addition to being smaller, forest elephants are darker, and their tusks are straighter and point downward. There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton between the two species. Forest elephants are uniquely adapted to the dense forest habitat of the Congo Basin but are in sharp decline due to poaching for the international ivory trade and habitat loss and fragmentation. It is estimated that probably one-quarter to one-third of the total African elephant population is made up of forest elephants.
Fun Facts with Travel Lekker – Elephants
- Elephants described as eating machines, depending on their activities.
- They may feed for up to 16 hours a day and as much as 600 lb. of food.
- Elephants digest their food with less than 50% efficiency.
- A car could travel 20 miles on the methane produced by one elephant.
- Normal daily water consumption is about 25 – 50 gallons per animal.
- An elephant’s trunk can hold 2.5 gallons of water.
- It is estimated that about 50,000 Asian elephants survive today.
- 13K of the 50K surviving Asian elephants are maintained in human care.
- Elephants have hair all over their bodies.
- Elephants have eyelashes.
When it comes to African wildlife, few experiences rival the thrill of encountering the “Big Five.” Comprising the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros, these magnificent creatures are a must-see for any nature enthusiast. At Travel Lekker, we specialize in curating unforgettable journeys to witness these iconic animals in their natural habitats. Feel free to reach out to Travel Lekker for additional details about our remarkable Big Five Animals.
