https://i.postimg.cc/prs1Kbk6/1.jpg

Image source

Common Name: African Elephant

Scientific Name: Loxodonta africana

Type: Mammal

Group Name: Herd

Diet: Herbivore

Life Span in the Wild: up to 70 Years

Weight: 2.5 to 7 Tons

Isn't it sad that more and more animals are being listed as threatened? Poachers have no regard for animals and they kill these big majestic animals in the blink of an eye.

Did you know that elephants have the largest teeth on earth? The major cause of death of mature elephants is the loss of teeth. Poachers kill elephants only for their teeth, and without teeth it becomes very difficult to chew food, and this causes starvation and malnutrition. Elephants use their big tusks to protect themselves and without teeth they are unable to protect themselves successfully and they are more open to predators. The average African Elephant's Tusk can reach 1.5 to 2.4 meters and may weigh in anything between 23 to 45 kg.

Why poachers sell elephant's teeth?

Elephant teeth is unique because it contains ivory. Ivory is used in huge amounts to make piano keys, jewelry as well as billiard balls. All items for human enjoyment. In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned the ivory trade.

https://i.postimg.cc/pdZs8M0M/ivory.jpg

Image source

Interesting facts about elephants

Elephants cannot jump.

The skin of an elephant is nearly 3 cm thick.

Elephants have the longest pregnancy of all animals. Nearly 22 months.

Elephants can drink water through their trunks, almost like a straw. They drink up to 230 liters of water per day. Elephants can use their trunks to breathe (like a snorkel) in deep water. In this way, they can swim fairly long distances.

Elephants can eat up to 150 kg of food per day.

Elephants move in groups, but split up once ten daughters and grandparents are met. Even though they break into smaller herds, the different herds of elephants often meet on a frequent basis. A group is led by a female. If a calf is born, then the calf is raised by the whole herd.

Male elephants are often driven from groups, they are tolerated up to the age of ten to fourteen years and then driven away. Females are only expelled from a group once they become disabled or are unable to feed.

Female elephants are very keen to communicate. They often grumble, snort, squeals or trumpet to convey a message.

Elephants are very sociable but also very emotional animals. They grief when one of their herd dies. Due to the way their brains are structured, elephants show a great deal of human emotions, and can show sadness and mourning for a long time after their family members have passed on.

Ever heard the saying that and elephant never forgets? Elephants are extremely intelligent and their memory is vital during dry seasons. The eldest members leads the younger siblings to watering holes they have visited in the past.

https://youtu.be/pBO9PUS9Iuc

Video courtesy of YouTube

There are so much more to read about these beautiful animals. If you want to read more here are some sites that you might find useful!

https://hluhluwegamereserve.com/african-big-5/elephant/

https://greenglobaltravel.com/facts-about-elephants-world-elephant-day/#FACTS%20ABOUT%20ELEPHANT%20BEHAVIORS

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/a/african-elephant/

https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/uTTxevNHNCeyS8H59FwJyHwgeQVkG-O9lexhKaVyhiA/%3Fwidth%3D270%26height%3D270/https/media.discordapp.net/attachments/453577536413237258/477155905461551111/logo.png?width=243&height=243

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://imgoat.com/uploads/c8349cc726/44248.gif