African elephants

Two elephant species live in Africa: the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the smaller African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) of Central Africa's rainforests. The quick facts on this page refer to the more widespread savanna elephant. African elephants have much larger ears than Asian elephants, which help them shed body heat.

Where does it live?

Savanna elephants live in Africa south of the Sahara, in savannas, grasslands and open woodlands. They depend on water and may walk long distances to find it during the dry season.

What does it eat?

Elephants are herbivores that eat grass, leaves, bark, roots and fruit. They spend most of the day feeding. By knocking down trees to open up clearings and spreading seeds in their dung, they deeply shape their ecosystem.

Behaviour and social life

Elephant herds are made up of related females and their young, usually led by the oldest female. The matriarch's memory of water sources and dangers is vital to the herd's survival. Males leave the herd in adolescence and live alone or in loose "bachelor groups". Elephants communicate by touch, by sound and with rumbles so low that humans cannot hear them, which can travel for kilometres.

Calves

An elephant pregnancy lasts about 22 months, the longest of any land mammal. Usually a single calf is born and raised with help from other females in the herd.

Conservation status

In 2021 the IUCN assessed the two African elephant species separately: the savanna elephant is Endangered (EN) and the forest elephant is Critically Endangered (CR). Poaching for ivory and the shrinking of their habitat to farms and settlements are the main threats.

Fun facts

• An elephant's trunk is estimated to contain tens of thousands of muscles and no bones.
• Elephants can sense ground vibrations through their feet.
• Tusks are actually greatly enlarged incisor teeth.