African elephant
The African elephant is the largest land mammal, growing up to 13ft (4m) at shoulder height and weighing around 6350kg (14000lbs). Living up to 70 years elephants are famous for their wisdom and memory.
The elephant鈥檚 trunk is one magnificent multi-tool.
The female elephants herd together with juvenile bulls and calves, teaching them where to find water and food, while male elephants are loan rangers. Both males and females use their ivory tusks to dig for food whilst foraging for a diet of grasses, roots, fruit and bark, males however also use their tusks in battle for a mate.
Yet for the female finding a mate is only the beginning - an elephant cow’s pregnancy lasts up to 22 months – longer than any other land mammal. At birth a calf can be 1m (3ft) and weigh 90kg (200lbs).
Cute factor – Clumsy nose
Almost immediately after birth a baby elephant must master life on four legs, but it takes much longer for its 5th limb to reach its full length and purpose. There’s nothing much cuter than watching an elephant calf learning, and failing to use the thousands of muscles in the trunk.
The elephant’s trunk is one magnificent multi-tool. As well as being a nose used to drink and breath, adult elephants use their trunk to bathe, trumpet and forage for food.
A very unusual nose
Mastering the movement of a trunk takes a lot of practice for a baby elephant.
