Elephants

Habitat

An African elephant calf can weigh up to 100 kilograms, with a gestation period of up to 22 months, making it the longest pregnancy of African mammals and mammals in general. An adult elephant can weigh on average two to five tons and reach a height of four meters, with males usually being larger than females.

African elephants, also known as savanna elephants, once roamed the entire African continent just a few hundred years ago. Today, the range of these animals extends only as far south as Sudan. Elephants are found in four separate regions, which include: the savannas in the east and south, in West Africa, in northern Namibia and in the central rainforest. Particularly noteworthy is the rainforest habitat, where elephants have adapted by becoming smaller.

Behavior

How do these animals behave towards each other? Elephants live in herds of up to 20 animals, consisting of elephant cows and their calves. The group is always led by an older matriarch who serves as a role model within the herd. Elephant bulls, on the other hand, usually travel alone or join other young elephants to form a small group. Males and females only come together intentionally during mating season, after which they soon separate again. To meet their high food requirements, elephants are constantly on the move to find new food sources. They can cover distances of several hundred kilometers.

Nutrition

The size of elephant herds is determined by the amount of food available, with new animals constantly joining or individuals switching to other groups when the time is right. To communicate with each other, elephants use infrasound calls that travel through the air and the ground.