Wild About Wildlife Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1, Revision 1
ALL ABOUT ELEPHANTS
Taxonomic Classification of Elephants
AFRICAN ELEPHANTS
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species: Loxodonta africana (African bush or Savanna elephant)
Habitat: East and central Africa south of the Sahara Desert,
Including the Savanna Grasslands
Species: Loxodonta cyclotis (African forest elephant)
Habitat: Sierra Leone to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
ASIAN ELEPHANTS
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Elphas
Species: Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant)
Habitat: India, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Southeast Asia,
and Sri Lanka
This is Rastas. He is an African Bush or
Savannah Elephant. He was abandoned as a
baby and was rescued by Wild Horizons
Conservation and Educational Programme in
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This is a wonderful
organization that rescues baby elephants that
have been abandoned or orphaned. Unlike the
sanctuaries in the United States, Wild
Horizons does allow breeding, as they are
focused on the survival of the species. Being an
educational facility as well, school children are
particularly welcomed.
Mother & Baby Elephant—Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
COMPARISONS BETWEEN AFRICAN AND ASIAN ELEPHANTS
The African bush elephant is the largest
living land animal. The adult male, or
bull elephant weighs 6-7 tons and is from
10-11 feet high at the shoulder.
The Asian elephant is smaller than the
African bush elephant. The Asian bull
weighs 3-6 tons and is 8-11 feet high at
the shoulder. The female, or cow is
smaller. The African forest elephant is
even smaller than the Asian elephants.
All elephants grow throughout their entire
lifetime.
Other than size the most noticeable
difference between the African and Asian
elephants is the ears. The ears are used
for social communication and hearing. In
the African elephant, the ears are also
used as a cooling mechanism. The ears of
the African elephants may measure six
feet from top to bottom and are in the
shape of the continent of Africa. The
Asian ears are smaller and are roughly in
the shape of the country of India.
Possibly the most
All elephants lack
noticeable elephant feature
canine teeth and
is the trunk. This is an
lower
incisors.
elongation of the nose and
Both African and
the upper lip.
It is
Asian bulls have
extremely sensitive and has
ever-growing upper
multiple uses such as
incisors which are
touching, smelling,
called tusks. Most
breathing, and carrying
African cows also
food and water to the
possess
tusks.
mouth. It is also used for
Asian cows do not
spraying the body with
have tusks.
The
water, mud and dust. This
molars lie in a
protects the body from
groove in the jaw
insect bites and the sun.
rather than in
Elephants do not drink
sockets. They get
water through their trunks.
six sets of four
The use them for shooting
molars in their
water into their mouths.
lifetime.
These
The trunk of the African
teeth grow forward
“Walking with Mom”
elephant has a two fingerreplacing the worn,
Photo
Courtesy of Josh Siegel older teeth. They
like extension on the base
of the trunk, while the
get their sixth set of
Asian has one finger.
teeth at about 30 years of ago. This set
must last them for the rest of their life.
Reproduction and Growth
The elephant cow is pregnant for 18-22 months. Generally only one calf is born.
The African calf is born weighing between 225 and 260 pounds, while the Asian
weighs between 200 and 225 pounds. They are both three feet high at the shoulder.
They become sexually mature between 9 and 14 years. Adult height and weight is
attained at about 25 years. Growth continues throughout their entire life, however
at 25 they begin to grow more slowly. Their life expectancy is up to 60-80 years.
“The oldest cow in the group is
most often the leader. She knows
the locations of food and water…”
Behavior
All elephants live in matriarchal
(female dominated) societies.
The
oldest cow in the group is most often
the leader. She knows the locations of
food and water, thus the group follows
her.
Elephants are very affectionate. They
are supportive of all members of the
group, especially the young. When
there is danger, they take up a defensive
position to protect the babies.
Elephant Herd at Watering Hole
Volume 1, Issue 1, Revision 1
The bulls stay with the herd until they
are sexually mature at about nine to
fourteen years of age. They may join a
small group of bulls, but they become
more solitary as they age.
Diet
Elephants are herbivo re s
(vegetarians). Asian elephants
are primarily grazers, whereas
African elephants are browsers.
Grazers eat more grass than
browsers who primarily eat
shoots, leaves and twigs of trees,
and shrubs. They eat up to 350
pounds of food per day.
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Zoos Vs Some Independent Sanctuaries
There are groups of people who believe that animals should be in their natural habitat in the wild, not in zoos.
With some of these groups it appears that their main focus is on the elephant. They believe that those born in zoos
should be moved to independent sanctuaries. In the United States however, breeding is not permitted in these
sanctuaries. This is partially due to the fact that this would increase the captive population. As there are roughly
only 30,000 Asian elephants in existence in the world, moving all captive elephants to sanctuaries would lead to
the extinction of the species.
Zoos are accredited by the
American Zoo and Aquarium
Association (AZA). Among the
requirements for accreditation
are “to nurture wildlife and
enrich the human experience”.
Zoos are also required to
adhere to the Species Survival
Plan (SSP) which manages the
populations in the zoos. The
AZA inspects all zoos on a
regular basis. This is not the
case
for
independent
sanctuaries.
Asian elephants have been
domesticated for approximately
four thousand years.
The
number in captivity far exceeds
the number in the wild.
Not only is breeding not
allowed in sanctuaries, but the
public is not allowed either.
Children need to grow up
seeing these magnificent
animals to be concerned about
Asian Elephant, “Billy” Enjoying the Waterfall at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
their preservation.
Photo Courtesy of Paul Bronstein
Elephants being so large are really very lazy animals. The keepers have to entice them to get exercise. In the wild,
they run for food and water which is provided in the zoo.
African elephants are generally not domesticated, but they are endangered. As with Asian elephants, they are not
allowed to breed in sanctuaries.
In 2003 there was a herd of African elephants that were to be culled (killed) in Swaziland due to a lack of food in
their area. There was a group of people who were against them being brought to the San Diego Zoo and Wild
Animal Park; they were in favor of them being killed. As it turns out, the elephants are very happy in their San
Diego home as they are breeding and have had 12 babies. In the 1980s, this same group of people was opposed to
taking the last 27 California condors to a zoo. Their comment was, “Let them die with dignity”. Now there are
over 300 birds flying with dignity in the wild. A few years ago the last California condor brought in from the wild
was returned to Big Sur, his original home.
At the 2012 AZA Annual Conference the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens was given the prestigious
Significant Achievement Award. The winning exhibit was the six acre Asian Elephant enclosure with a two and
one half acre barn. The three resident elephants have access to the barn 24 hours a day, and they love their
waterfall and pond.
Volume 1, Issue 1, Revision 1
Page 3
Status
The Asian elephant has been domesticated for approximately four thousand years.
captivity far exceeds the number in the wild.
Today the number in
All elephants are listed as endangered. In Africa, this is primarily due to loss of habitat and poaching (illegal
hunting) for ivory. The desire for ivory began in the seventeenth
century. The poaching of African elephants
accelerated from the mid nineteenth century to the early twentieth century due primarily to the availability of
high powered rifles.
In 1979, the African elephant population was estimated at 1.3 million. One decade later, the number was down
to 609,000 animals showing that more than 50% were poached for their ivory tusks. In Kenya alone, the
elephant population was reduced by 87% between 1970 and 1989.
In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) put a
moratorium on all elephant products. During the next
decade, poaching did decrease not only due to the policing of
the ban but also to the decline in the price of ivory. Illegal
poaching slowed down but was by no means eliminated.
Female Asian Elephant
Photo Courtesy of Paul Bronstein
There are excellent substitutes for ivory which
are largely used for piano keys, billiard balls,
brush handles, and some decorative pieces
including jewelry. Ivory carving is a major
industry in Asian countries. Many Asian people
believe that ivory jewelry will protect them from
harm as well as bring them good luck. Religious
jewelry and pieces symbolizing prosperity are
prevalent.
In 2008 China legally bought 73 tons of African
ivory. This has caused a resurgence in illegal
poaching and smuggling. In 2011 alone, 25,000
African elephants were killed for their tusks.
Volume 1, Issue 1, Revision 1
Asian Bull Elephant
Photo Courtesy of Paul Bronstein
Page 4
“Chobe Evening”
Photo Courtesy of Josh Siegel
“Chobe Boss Lady”
Photo Courtesy of Josh Siegel
Volume 1, Issue 1, Revision 1
Page 5
“Chobe Rhinos and Friends”
Photo Courtesy of Josh Siegel
Monthly Wildlife Newsletter
An entity of BINGO ENTERPRISES LLC
E-mail questions, comments and/or suggestions to:
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African Baby
References:
The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals, Dr. D. W.
Macdonald, Ed, Princeton University Press, 2006
Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA)
Notebook, 2010
San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, 2012
Wild Horizons Conservation and Educational
Programme, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 2008
National Geographic Magazine, Vol. 222, No. 4,
October 2012
African Bull Sunbathing
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