African elephants are the largest land animals, with males reaching up to 10-13 feet tall and weighing 10,000-14,000 pounds.
Their large ears, shaped like Africa, distinguish them from Asian elephants, which have smaller, rounded ears.
They eat grasses, leaves, fruits, and bark, consuming up to 300 pounds of food daily.
Their trunks are versatile, used for breathing, smelling, drinking, and grasping objects, with over 40,000 muscles.
They live in matriarchal herds led by the oldest female, with herds consisting of up to 100 individuals.
Elephants exhibit behaviors such as grief, joy, anger, and playfulness, forming strong bonds.
Listed as vulnerable, they face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
They communicate using vocalizations, body language, and infrasound, often over long distances.
Elephants shape their environment by creating clearings, dispersing seeds, and digging for water, benefiting other species.
In the wild, they can live up to 60-70 years, and in captivity, even longer, sometimes over 80 years.