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African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

“Responsive”

     The African elephant is the largest living land animal weighing up to 8 tons and standing 10 to 13 feet at the shoulder.  Elephants are grayish to brown in color and their body hair is sparse and coarse.  Their two upper incisors grow into tusks, normally in the male.  Nostrils are located at the end of the muscular trunk, which is used for breathing, eating and drinking.  Elephants drink by sucking water up into the trunk and squirting it into the mouth.  On the tip of the trunk African elephants have two small finger-like projections used for picking up small objects as compared to the Asian elephant which have one.

      Elephants are sensitive animals.  They cry, play and have incredible memories.  An entire family will "rumble" and console a "complaining" baby with touch and caressing.  Elephants have also been known to "grieve" at the loss of a stillborn baby, family member and in many cases, other elephants.

     The African elephant is classified as threatened.  African elephants suffer particularly from poaching for the ivory trade