Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth!
African elephants can weigh up to 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg).
There are three species of elephants:
African Savannah (bush), African Forest, and Asian elephants.
Elephant trunks have over 40,000 muscles!
That’s more than the human body has in total!
Their trunks are super versatile.
They use it to breathe, smell, touch, trumpet, drink, and grab things.
Elephants can "smell" water from miles away.
Their sense of smell is incredibly powerful.
They can use tools!
Elephants have been seen using sticks to scratch themselves or swat insects.
Elephants are excellent swimmers.
They use their trunk as a snorkel in deep water.
They have a great memory.
The phrase “an elephant never forgets” is based on truth!
Their ears help regulate body temperature.
Flapping them helps cool their blood.
Elephants mourn their dead.
They show empathy and grief, often touching and staying with the body for hours.
They live in tight-knit matriarchal families.
A female leads the herd, usually the oldest and wisest.
Baby elephants are called calves.
They can weigh up to 250 pounds (113 kg) at birth!
Elephant pregnancies are the longest of any mammal.
Around 22 months—almost 2 years!
They love to play.
Calves especially enjoy chasing birds and sliding in the mud.
They communicate through infrasound.
These are low-frequency sounds humans can’t hear, which travel miles.
Elephants can “hear” through their feet.
Vibrations from the ground help them detect distant herds or danger.
Their tusks are actually enlarged incisor teeth.
Tusks can grow over 10 feet long!
Not all elephants have tusks.
Especially in Asian elephants, only some males grow them.
They love mud baths.
Mud protects their skin from sunburn and insect bites.
Elephants can recognize themselves in mirrors.
A sign of high intelligence—very few animals can do this!
They can live up to 60–70 years in the wild.
And sometimes even longer in protected environments.
Elephants can be right- or left-tusked.
Just like humans are right- or left-handed!
They walk on their tiptoes!
A spongy pad in their feet helps support their weight.
Elephants eat a LOT.
Up to 300 pounds (136 kg) of food in a day—mostly plants.
They form lifelong friendships.
Elephants build bonds and help each other throughout life.
