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conservation status: Endangered The African Elephant is the largest land dwelling animal - normally reaching twenty to thirty feet tall and weighing between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds. The elephant's trunk is formed by the fusion and elongation of the nose and upper lip - forming a flexible and strong organ made purely of muscle. They use seismic vibrations at infra sound frequencies for communication. This herbivore' diet varies according to habitat and the normal life-span in the wild is sixty-five to seventy years. Individuals in captivity have lived up to eighty years. They have a very large brain and and are notably intelligent with reasoning and learning skills. In the wild, a herd of elephants is made up of related females and their younglings. The matriarch decides the route and shows all the water sources she knows to each member of the herd which they recognize. Males form herds with others of the same age. They recognize family members when reencountered. Following a twenty-two month gestation, the female gives birth to a single calf who feeds on mother's milk for five years and eats solid food from as early as six months. Relations among members of the herd are very tight. When a female gives birth the rest go to acknowledge it by touching him or her with their trunks. In addition, when an old elephant dies the rest of the herd stays by the body for awhile. They have been observed forming a circle around the body and touching his forehead with their trunks. The adult lacks natural predators thanks to its size but calves are vulnerable to lion, leopard, crocodile and hyena. Humans are their only predator. In 1989, hunting and ivory trading were forbidden. Trophy hunting and poaching had decreased the population by half and it was estimated that if no protective measures were taken, the wild elephant would be extinct by 1995. While the elephant population is increasing somewhat, poaching is still a problem. Greatest threat - loss of habitat and man This image is of Tanya who has lived at the Abilene Zoo since 1981. She is an accomplished painter. |