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African Elephant


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genus

Loxodonta

species

africana

Geographic Range

Ethiopian: Isolated populations exist around Lake Chad, in Mali and
Mauritania. Also in Kenya, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Zaire, and
in National parks in South Africa. 

Physical Characteristics

Mass: 216 to 604 kg 

                           African Elephants are the largest land
                           mammals. They stand 2.2- 2.6m
                           (females) to 3.2 -4.0m (males) at the shoulder. Distinguishing
                           characters are the large ears that aid in temperature regulation;
                           the tusks that are used for fighting, digging, and eating; and
                           the trunk that is used for breathing, communication, feeding,
                           and drinking. Their bodies are grey in color and sparsely
                           haired. There are only six teeth, which erupt throughout life,
                           replacing each other as they move forward. Once the sixth
tooth has worn down, there are no more, and animals may starve to death. 

Food Habits

     Diet consists mainly of bark, fruit, grass, and leaves. Elephants are known to topple tress to
     feed on them. They can consume up to 50 gallons on water daily, and there is evidence that
     resource locations are learned from social interactions. 

Reproduction

                               There is no breeding season. Prior to mating there is
                               trunk interplay and rubbing the trunk along the partner's
                               body. Gestation is for 22 months, young are born
                               weighing 90-120kg and can walk around after 15-30
                               minutes. Nursing ocurs for 2-3 years and juveniles
                               become sexually mature at 8 (female) to 13 (male) years
                               of age. 

                           Behavior

     Clans of related females and their offspring are the main social unit. Clans can range from 6
     to 70 individuals. Males disperse and join male groups. They occasionally follow clans in
     hopes of getting matings. Males fight for females and dominance is usually due to size,
     fighting ability, and temperament. Fights may involve trunk wrestling or escalate to tusk
     charges, which can be fatal. The winner may mark the territory around a clan with a
     temporal gland sac.

     There are several interesting social behaviors that have been observed in African elephants.
     They have been seen to help young and wounded elephants over obstacles. They have been
     observed to carry dead elephants and even bury them under branches; individuals have been
     seen standing by the bones of dead elephants for hours and also to carry bones around. 

Habitat

                    Elephants were originally found in all habitats of Sub-Saharan Africa
                    except deserts and desert stepes. They still occupy diverse habitats
                    despite their drastic reduction in numbers. Their migration patterns and
                    therefore habitat use have changed, mainly due to their restriction to
                    protected areas. 

Conservation/Biodiversity

Status: threatened. 

               African Elephants have been severely hunted for economic reasons and were on
               the brink of extinction. After conservation efforts and pressures on the ivory
               trade, numbers have increased in many areas. In some locations animals are
               now even killed in management programs. They are still vulnerable, however,
               and in need of continued protection.

Economic Benefits for Humans

Positive

     Many products have been made from elephants: leather for handbags, wallets, and footwear.
     The feet have been used as bar stools and lamp bases. The most precious of the products from
     elephants is ivory, which has been used for piano keys, carvings, jewelery, and billiards.
     Many countries have placed a ban on the import of ivory products; there is still, nevertheless,
     intensive poaching. Elephants also have economic value as beast of burden and formerly for
     military use. 

Negative

     Elephants have been blamed for the destruction of crops, buildings, and even have taken
     human lives. Culling of populations now occurs to minimize habitat destruction in some
     areas. 

Other Comments

Humans are the only predators of consequense to adult elephants. Calves may also be preyed upon
by lions, wild dogs, crocodiles, and hyenas.

African elephants can be distinguished from Asian Elephants by their larger size, by their two
finger-like projectionsat the end of the trunk, larger ears, and possession of tusks by both males
and females.