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Elephants are the largest living land animals, with adults sometimes weighing six tons or more. Of the two species, the African elephant is larger and more plentiful than the Asian elephant. But both are threatened by shrinking living space and poaching for the ivory trade. Modern elephants are the last survivors of the old and varied "trunked" family of mammals that once ranged the entire planet. These heirs of such mighty creatures as the extinct mastodon and mammoth and occupy a unique place in their habitat in Africa and Asia. |
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| Male weighs 11,000 lb, up to 13,200 lb, height 9 ft 10 in to 11 ft; female weighs 6600 to 7700 lb, height 8 ft 4 in. Head: trunk, a muscular extension of the upper lip containing the nostrils, tip equipped with 2 finger-like projections for handling small objects. They have huge ears, up to 6.5 x 5 ft. They have 6 sets of cheek teeth (2 upper and 2 lower) of increasing size that move into place as the animal outgrows/wears out previous set; continuously growing tusks averaging 134 lb apiece in males, maximum wt 287 lb, length 7.7 ft and 42 lb in females at 60 years. Feet: 4 toes on front feet, 3 on rear feet. Their skin is naked except for scattered bristles and sensory hairs; color gray or brown. |
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The elephants today don't look the same as they did long ago. The mother elephant is called a cow, the father is called a bull, and the baby is called a calf. The leader of the elephant herd is an old female. Along with the elephant, the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus are all called Pachyderms. When the baby elephant doesn't behave, the mother spanks the calf with her trunk. |
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| Elephants in the wild consume grass, leaves and such, with a high percentage of water, and may eat up to 300 kgs/day. In captivity they eat about 30 kg hay, 10 kg carrots or similar, and 5-10 kg of bread. Some zoos give a "breakfast" of different grains, about 3-10 kg. Also vitamin's, (especially A and D) minerals, (salt, calcium) and trace elements (such as Selenium) are often added. Depending on the temperature, they drink from 100 to 300 liters/day. Above 250 liters a day indicates something is wrong. Elephants suffering from TBC may drink up to 600 liters. |
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When an elephant drinks, it sucks as much as 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water into its trunk at a time. Then it curls its trunk under, sticks the tip of its trunk into its mouth, and blows. Out comes the water, right down the elephants throat. Since African elephants live where the sun is usually blazing hot, they use their trunks to help them keep cool. First they squirt a trunkful of cool water over their bodies. Then they often follow that with a sprinkling of dust to create a protective layer of dirt on their skin (think elephant sunscreen!). |
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