Features of the behavior of African elephants. Interesting facts about elephants

Elephant Is one of the most amazing animals. They not only know a lot, but they can also be sad, worried, bored and even laugh.

In difficult situations, they always come to the aid of their relatives. Elephants have a knack for music and drawing.

Features and habitat of the elephant

Two million years ago, during the Pleistocene period, mammoths and mastodons were distributed throughout the planet. Currently, two species of elephants have been studied: African and Indian.

It is believed that this is the largest mammal on the planet. However, it is wrong. The largest is the blue or blue whale, the second is the sperm whale, and only the third is the African elephant.

He is truly the largest of all land animals. The second largest land animal after the elephant is the hippopotamus.

At the withers, the African elephant reaches 4 m and weighs up to 7.5 tons. the elephant weighs slightly less - up to 5t, its height - 3m. The mammoth belongs to the extinct proboscis. The elephant is a sacred animal in India and Thailand.

Pictured is an Indian elephant

According to legend, Buddha's mother dreamed White elephant with a lotus, which predicted the birth of an unusual child. The white elephant is a symbol of Buddhism and the embodiment of spiritual wealth. When an albino elephant is born in Thailand, this is a significant event, the King of the state himself takes him under his wing.

These are the largest land mammals that inhabit Southeast Asia. They prefer to settle in areas of savannah and tropical forests. It is impossible to meet them only in the deserts.

Elephant animal, which is famous for its large tusks. they are used to get food, to clear the road, in order to mark the territory. Tusks grow constantly, in adults, the growth rate can reach 18 cm per year, older individuals have the largest tusks of about 3 meters.

The teeth constantly grind, fall out and new ones grow in their place (they change about five times in a lifetime). The price of ivory is very high, which is why animals are constantly being destroyed.

And although the animals are protected and even listed in the International, there are still poachers who are ready to kill this beautiful animal for profit.

It is very rare to find animals with large tusks, since almost all of them were exterminated. It is noteworthy that in many countries the killing of an elephant carries the death penalty.

There is a legend about the existence of separate mysterious cemeteries among elephants, where old and sick animals go to die, since it is very rare to find the tusks of dead animals. However, scientists managed to dispel this legend, it turned out that porcupines feast on tusks, which thus satisfy their mineral hunger.

Elephant is a kind of animal, which has another interesting organ - the trunk, reaching seven meters in length. It is formed from the upper lip and nose. The trunk contains approximately 100,000 muscles. This organ is used for breathing, drinking and making sounds. Plays an important role when eating, as a kind of flexible arm.

To grab small objects, the Indian elephant uses a small extension on its trunk that resembles a finger. The African representative has two of them. The trunk serves both for plucking blades of grass and for breaking down large trees. With the help of the trunk, animals can afford to shower from dirty water.

This is not only pleasant for animals, but also protects the skin from annoying insects (the dirt dries out and forms a protective film). An elephant is a group of animals that have very large ears. African elephants have much more than Asian elephants. Animal ears are not only an organ of hearing.

Since elephants do not have sebaceous glands, they never sweat. Numerous capillaries piercing the ears expand in hot weather and release excess heat into the atmosphere. In addition, this organ can be fanned.

Elephant- the only thing mammal who cannot jump and run. They can either just walk or move at a brisk pace, which equates to running. Despite its heavy weight, thick skin (about 3 cm) and thick bones, the elephant walks very quietly.

The thing is that the pads on the animal's foot spring and expand as the load increases, which makes the animal's gait almost silent. These same pads help the elephants move around the marshlands. At first glance, the elephant is a rather clumsy animal, but it can reach speeds of up to 30 km per hour.

Elephants can see perfectly, but use their sense of smell, touch and hearing more. Long eyelashes are designed to keep dust out. Being good swimmers, the animals can swim up to 70 km and stay in the water without touching the bottom for six hours.

The sounds made by elephants through the larynx or trunk can be heard at a distance of 10 km.

The nature and lifestyle of the elephant

Wild elephants live in a herd of up to 15 animals, where all individuals are exclusively females and relatives. The main one in the herd is the female matriarch. The elephant does not tolerate loneliness, it is vital for him to communicate with his relatives, they are faithful to the herd to death.

The members of the herd help and care for each other, raise children with conscience and protect themselves from danger and help the weak members of the family. Male elephants are often solitary animals. They live next to some group of females, less often they form their own herds.

Children live in a group up to 14 years old. Then they choose: either to stay in the herd, or to create their own. In the event of the death of a fellow tribesman, the animal is very sad. In addition, they respect the ashes of their relatives, they will never step on it, trying to push it off the path, and even recognize the bones of relatives among other remains.

Elephants spend no more than four hours sleeping during the day. Animals african elephants sleeping while standing. They huddle together and lean on each other. Old elephants place their large tusks on a termite mound or tree.

Indian elephants sleep lying on the ground. The elephant's brain is quite complex and is second only to whales in structure. It weighs approximately 5 kg. In the animal kingdom, an elephant- one of the most intelligent representatives of the fauna in the world.

They can identify themselves in the mirror, which is one of the signs of self-awareness. Only and can boast of this quality. Also, only chimpanzees and elephants use tools.

Observations have shown that an Indian elephant can use a tree branch as a fly swatter. Elephants have an excellent memory. They easily remember the places they have been and the people with whom they communicated.

Nutrition

Elephants love to eat very much. The elephants eat 16 hours a day. They need up to 450 kg of various plants daily. The elephant is able to drink from 100 to 300 liters of water per day, depending on the weather.

In the photo, elephants at a watering hole

Elephants are herbivores, their diet includes the roots and bark of trees, grass, fruits. Animals replenish the lack of salt with the help of licks (salt that has come to the surface of the earth). In captivity, elephants feed on grass and hay.

They will never give up apples, bananas, cookies and bread. An excessive love of sweets can lead to health problems, but candies of a wide variety of varieties are the most beloved delicacy.

Elephant reproduction and lifespan

In the time frame, the mating season for elephants is not strictly indicated. However, it has been noticed that the birth rate of animals increases during the rainy period. During the estrus period, which lasts no more than two days, the female attracts the male with her cries for mating. Together they stay for no more than a few weeks. During this time, the female can move away from the herd.

Interestingly, male elephants can be homosexual. After all, the female mates only once a year, and her pregnancy lasts quite a long time. Males need sexual partners much more often, which leads to the emergence of same-sex relationships.

After 22 months, usually one cub is born. Childbirth takes place in the presence of all members of the herd, who are ready to help if necessary. After their end, the whole family begins to trumpet, shout and announce and add.

Baby elephants weigh approximately 70 to 113 kg, are about 90 cm tall and are completely toothless. Only at the age of two do they develop small milk tusks, which will change to indigenous ones with age.

A newborn baby elephant needs more than 10 liters of breast milk per day. Up to two years old, it is the main diet of the child, in addition, little by little, the baby begins to feed on plants.

They can also feed on their mother's feces to help them digest the branches and bark of plants more easily. The elephants constantly keep near their mother, who protects and teaches him. And you have to learn a lot: drink water, move with the herd and control the trunk.

Trunk work is a very difficult activity, constant training, lifting objects, getting food and water, greeting relatives and so on. The mother elephant and members of the entire herd protect the babies from attacks and.

Animals become independent at the age of six. At 18 years old, females can give birth. Females have babies every four years. Males mature two years later. In the wild, the life expectancy of animals is about 70 years, in captivity - 80 years. The oldest elephant, who died in 2003, lived to be 86 years old.

Elephants are the largest land-dwelling mammals. The largest animals live in Africa. Their weight can reach 12 tons, their height is more than three meters, and their body length is more than 7 meters.

One of the main features of an elephant is a long trunk, which is a fused upper lip with a nose. The trunk is a universal organ that allows the elephant to get food, collect water for drinking and bathing, lift and carry various objects, and also helps to capture odors.

Another feature of elephants is their large ears. In elephants, the ears perform the function of thermoregulation. They are permeated with a dense network of blood vessels, and when blood passes through these vessels, it cools, and then returns to other organs and cools them. Elephants have a very good ear, they are even able to distinguish some melodies.

Spreading

Elephants live on the African continent in the savannas, as well as in the southeastern part of Asia, preferring tropical rainforests.

Nutrition

Elephants are herbivores. They feed on leaves, grass, various fruits and tree bark. An adult elephant eats up to 300 kg of grass and leaves and drinks about 300 liters of water per day.

In captivity, the food of elephants is more varied. They willingly eat fruits, vegetables and root vegetables, enjoy bread and biscuits with pleasure, and are very fond of sweets. However, an excess of sweets is harmful to elephants - they gain excess weight and become inactive.

Lifestyle

Elephants live in groups, as these are social animals. The group usually consists of an adult, experienced female who is the head of the group, several younger females and their young. Male elephants live in their own separate herds, and only occasionally do they join a group of females.

The female usually gives birth to one baby elephant. Its weight can be from 60 to almost 100 kg. The baby elephant stays with its mother for about five years, all this time it feeds on her milk and only at the age of five does it switch to the usual food for elephants. Throughout her life, the elephant gives birth to 5 to 12 elephants. One elephant can be followed by two elephants of different ages at once.

Usually elephants move slowly, but if necessary, they can reach speeds of up to 40 km / h. Elephants swim well and can swim quite long distances. They are very fond of water and often arrange a shower for themselves, pouring themselves with a trunk.

Elephants are very talkative - they can roar, trumpet, and even squeal. These animals are capable of making sounds so strong that they can be heard at a distance of about 10 km.

In good conditions, elephants can live up to 60 years.

Elephants cannot jump.

Brief information about the elephant.

A lot is known about elephants, but there are even more secrets associated with their life.

They are amazing creatures. They look massive, but gentle and sentimental. They can experience joy, sorrow. This is unusual considering their sheer size.

Elephants are one of the largest animals on our planet. Growth reaches four meters, and body weight - twelve tons. The color depends on the habitat. It can be gray, smoky, white, pink.

The body is covered with thick, tough skin with deep folds. The layer reaches three centimeters. But this does not apply to all parts of the body. On the cheeks, behind the ears, around the mouth, the skin is thin, up to two millimeters in thickness. On the trunk and legs, it is also sensitive and tender.

Note! The skin is the largest sense organ that performs the function of protection. It is part of the excretory system, controls body temperature.

An amazing organ on the body is the trunk, which appeared as a result of fusion and elongation of the nose with the upper lip. It consists of many small muscles, it has little adipose tissue, no bones. This part of the body is a means of defense. With the help of the trunk, breathing is carried out, it also performs the functions of the mouth and hand. Using it, the animal picks up large objects and small things. At the end of the trunk there is a sensitive outgrowth, with the help of which the animal manipulates small objects and senses.

Note! The trunk plays an important role in the life of an elephant. It is necessary for communication, getting food, protection.

Another feature of giants is tusks. These are modified incisors of the upper jaw that grow throughout the life of the animal. They serve as an indicator of age. The longer and larger the tusk, the older the elephant. In adults, it reaches 2.5 m in length, weighs 90 kg. Used for getting food, serves as a weapon, protects the trunk. Incisors are a precious material from which luxury goods are made.

The elephant also has molars. There are four to six of them, located on both jaws. As they wear out, old teeth are replaced by new ones that grow inside the jaw, which move forward over time. Teeth change several times throughout life. With their help, elephants grind very tough plant food.

Note! When the last teeth are erased, the lone animal dies. He has nothing more to chew and grind food. The elephant, which is in the herd, is helped by relatives.

The ears should be noted separately. Although the giants have rather delicate hearing, the main purpose of the ears is to cool the body. Numerous blood vessels are located on their inner side. The blood is cooled during the strokes. She, in turn, carries coolness throughout the body. Therefore, individuals do not die from overheating.

Elephants have muscular and strong legs. Under the skin, on the sole of the foot, there is a gelatinous, springy mass that increases the area of ​​support. With its help, animals move almost silently.

The tail is practically the same length as the legs. The tip is wrapped in tough hairs that help ward off annoying insects.

Animals swim well. They like to splash in the water, jump, frolic. They can hold out in it for a long time without touching the bottom with their feet.

Where do elephants live? Types, differences between them

There are two types: Asian, they are also Indian, and African. There are no Australian elephants. The range of Asian - almost the entire territory of South Asia:

• China;
• Thailand;
• south and northeast of India;
• Laos;
• Vietnam;
• Malaysia;
• island of Sri Lanka.

Animals like to settle in the tropics and subtropics, where there are dense bushes and thickets of bamboo. In the cold season, they are forced to look for food in the steppes.

African giants prefer savannah and dense tropical forests of central and western Africa, live in the territory:

• Senegal;
• Namibia;
• Zimbabwe;
• Kenya;
• Republic of the Congo;
• Guinea;
• Sudan;
• Somalia;
• Zambia.

Most of them are forced to live in reserves and national parks, moreover, they prefer to avoid deserts, where there is practically no vegetation and reservoirs. Wild elephants often fall prey to poachers.

Despite the great similarity, there are a number of differences:

• African elephants are much larger and taller than their Asian counterparts.
• All African individuals have tusks; Asian females do not.
• In Indian elephants, the back of the body is above the level of the head.
• African ears are larger than Asian ones.
• African trunks are thinner than Indian relatives.
• It is almost impossible to tame an African animal, and the Indian elephant is easy to train and domesticate.

Note! When these two species are crossed, it will not be possible to get offspring. This also speaks of their differences at the genetic level.

The number of elephants living in the wild is rapidly declining. They need protection, they are listed in the Red Book.

What do elephants eat in their natural habitat and captivity?

Elephants are herbivores, feeding exclusively on plant foods. To maintain body weight, they need to consume large quantities of vegetation (up to 300 kg per day). Most of the day, animals are busy absorbing food. The diet depends entirely on location and season (rainy or dry).

In their natural habitat, elephants eat the leaves and bark of trees, rhizomes, fruits of wild fruits, and herbs. They love the salt they dig out of the ground. They do not bypass plantations, where they enjoy eating agricultural crops with pleasure.

In zoos and circuses, these giants are fed mainly with hay, which animals eat in large quantities. The diet includes fruits, roots, vegetables, tree branches. They prefer flour products, cereals, salt.

All individuals, regardless of the type and location, love water and always try to stay close to water bodies.

Breeding elephants. How many years do they live?

In nature, females and males live separately. When the female elephant is ready to mate, she releases pheromones and makes loud noises that call for males. It matures by the age of 12, and from 16 it is ready to bear offspring. Males mature a little later, excrete urine containing certain chemicals, letting females know that they are ready to mate. Males also emit deafening sounds and tempt females by temperament, arranging mating fights. When both elephants are ready to mate, they leave the herd for a while.

Depending on the species, pregnancy lasts between eighteen and twenty-two months. The birth of offspring takes place surrounded by a group that protects the female from possible dangers. Usually one cub is born, very rarely two. A few hours later, the baby elephant is already on its feet and sucking on its mother's milk. It quickly adapts and after a short period of time it calmly travels with a group of elephants, grabbing the mother's tail for fidelity.

The average life span of animals depends on the species:

• savannah and forest elephants live up to seventy years;
• the maximum lifespan of Indian elephants is 48 years.

A factor affecting life expectancy is the presence of teeth. As soon as the last incisors wear off, the animal faces death from exhaustion.

Dangers:

• cubs are easy prey for predators;
• insufficient amount of water and food;
• animals can become victims of poachers.

Wild elephants live longer than their domesticated counterparts. Due to improper conditions of detention, giants begin to get sick, which often leads to death.

Note! The average life span of an animal in captivity is three times shorter than that of its relatives living in its natural environment.

Enemies in nature

Among animals, elephants have no enemies, they are practically invulnerable. Even lions are wary of attacking healthy individuals. Potential prey for wild animals are cubs, which are protected by adults in times of danger. They create a protective ring out of their bodies, in the middle there are babies. Sick elephants that have strayed from the herd can also be attacked by predators.

The main enemy is a man with a gun. But if the animal senses danger, it can even kill it. For all its bulkiness, the giant develops a speed of up to 40 km / h. And if he decided to attack, then the opponent has practically no chance to stay alive.

Elephants are intelligent mammals. They have a great memory. Domesticated individuals are good-natured and patient. These animals are often found on the emblems of states. Some countries carry the death penalty for killing them. In Thailand, it is a sacred animal and is treated with respect.

Elephants (Elephantidae)- huge, strong, intelligent and sociable mammals. For many centuries, mankind has been amazed at their size - males of the African species can reach 7500 kilograms. Elephants surprise with their long and flexible noses, large and flapping ears, and loose and wrinkled skin. They are among the most famous animals in the world. There are many stories and films about elephants - you've probably heard of Horton, King Babar and baby Dumbo.

Appearance

Ears

The ears of elephants, in addition to their direct purpose, also act as a conditioner. In hot weather, elephants wave them, and thereby cool the blood in the ears, which, thanks to the numerous blood vessels, cools the entire body of the animal.

Leather

The term pachyderm comes from the Greek word pachydermos, meaning thick skin. The thickness of the skin on some parts of the body can be up to 2.54 cm. The skin is loosely attached to the body, which creates the appearance of baggy pants. The benefit of thicker skin is to retain moisture as it takes longer to evaporate and the body stays chilled longer. Despite the thickness of their skin, elephants are very sensitive to touch and sunburn. To protect themselves from blood-sucking insects and the sun, they often spray themselves with water and also ride in the mud.

Tusks and teeth

The elephant's tusks are located on the upper jaw and serve as the only incisors. They are used for protection, food extraction, and for lifting objects. Tusks are present at birth and are milk teeth that fall out after a year, when they reach a length of 5 cm. Permanent tusks extend beyond the lips after 2-3 years and grow throughout life. The tusks are made of ivory (dentine), with an outer layer of enamel, and the peculiar shape creates a special sheen that distinguishes elephant tusks from other mammals such as warthogs, walruses and sperm whales. Often, African elephants are killed by poachers only because of the tusks.

Elephants also have molars, located on both jaws on both sides. One molar can weigh about 2.3 kilograms and be about the size of a brick. Each elephant changes up to 6 sets of teeth during its life. New teeth do not grow vertically, as in most mammals, but climb from behind, while old and worn ones are pushed forward. In old age, the molars of elephants are sensitive and worn out, so they prefer to eat softer foods. In this case, swamps are ideal places for soft vegetation. In such areas, you can often find old individuals that remain there until their death. This circumstance has led some people to believe that elephants go to special places to die.

Trunk

The elephant's trunk is both the upper lip and the nose at the same time. On each side of the trunk there are 8 large muscles, and along the entire length there are about 150,000 muscle bundles (muscle lobes). This unique appendage lacks bones and cartilage. It is so strong that it can bring the trunk of a tree down and is so agile that it can only pick up one straw. Elephants use their trunks like we do our hands: grab, hold, lift, touch, pull, push, and throw.

The trunk also serves as a nose. It has two nostrils, for sucking air, along the long nasal passages, into the lungs. Elephants use their trunk to drink, but the water does not travel all the way to the nose like a straw, instead, it lingers in the trunk, and then the elephant lifts its head and pours the water into its mouth.

Habitat

Asian elephants live in Nepal, India and parts of Southeast Asia. The main habitat is undersized and tropical forests. In dry months, they are often found along river banks.

African bush elephants (savannah elephants) live in eastern, central and southern Africa, preferring low-lying and mountainous forests, river floodplains, all types of woodland and savannah. Forest elephants are found in the basins of the Congo River and in western Africa, in humid, semi-deciduous tropical forests.

The largest elephant

The record for the largest elephant was given to an adult male African elephant. He weighed about 12,240 kilograms and reached 3.96 meters in height to the shoulders. Most animals do not grow to this size, but African savannah elephants are much larger in size than Asian ones.

Great appetite

The elephant's diet includes all types of vegetation, from grasses and fruits to leaves and bark. Every day, these huge animals consume 75-50 kilograms of food, which is 4-6% of their body weight. On average, they eat up to 16 hours a day. Savannah elephants are herbivores and feed on grass, including sedges, flowering plants, and leaves of bushes. Forest elephants prefer leaves, fruits, seeds, twigs and bark. Asian elephants have a mixed diet, eating shrubs and small trees during dry periods and after heavy rains, and may eat grass after the first part of the rainy season. Also, Asian elephants can eat different types of plants depending on the season, branches and bark.

Life in the herd

Elephants live in tight social groups called herds, usually made up of females and their offspring. The main leader of the herd is the most experienced and adult female, therefore matriarchy reigns in the elephant family. The herd leader remembers how to find a way to food and water, how to avoid predators, and knows the best places to hide. Also, the main female has the right to teach younger individuals the rules of behavior in society. In some cases, the group may consist of one of the main leader's sisters and her offspring. When the number of individuals in a group becomes large, a new herd is formed, while they can maintain free communication with other associations.

Adult males do not usually live in the herd. After gaining independence from the mother, males leave the herd and live alone or with other bachelors. Males can visit a herd of females only for a short time, for reproduction. They do not participate in the upbringing of their offspring.

Etiquette is an important part of the elephant society. The trunk can be extended to another elephant for greeting, to show affection, hug, while fighting and checking reproductive health.

Offspring

At birth, the height of a baby elephant is about a meter, and its weight is 55-120 kg. As a rule, babies are born with hair, a short trunk and directly depend on the mother and other members of the herd. They do not need a trunk, since milk, from the mother, enters the mouth. Baby elephants try to stay as close to their mother or other lactating female as possible. During the first year of life, on average, they gain 1-1.3 kilograms of weight per day. If the baby is in distress, other members of the herd often come to his aid.

Despite the long gestation and protection, elephants need to gradually move along the social stages of the herd and establish their position in it. Cubs spend their days learning to walk on four legs in one direction, trying to cope with huge ears and mastering the work of the trunk. They are very clumsy at first, but all the time they learn to control their body. Upon reaching 2-3 years of age, the elephants stop feeding on their mother's milk.

Enemies

What animals threaten elephants? Not many! Baby elephants can be potential food for hyenas, lions, leopards or crocodiles, but as long as they are with their mom, don't worry. If the elephant senses an approaching danger, it emits a loud sound (alarm signal) to warn the others. To combat a potential predator, the herd forms a protective ring of adults, while the babies are in the middle. For an adult elephant, the main enemy is a poacher with a rifle.

Sounds

Elephants make many different sounds, but some of them cannot be picked up by human ears because they are low frequency. Elephants use these sounds to communicate with each other over long distances. Have you ever had stomach growls at the most inopportune moment? For the elephant society, this is a welcome sound that signals to other elephants that "everything is in order."

Views

There are two kinds of elephants: African and Asian. The African genus is subdivided into two species: the bush elephant and the forest elephant, and the Asian or Indian elephant is the only surviving species of its kind. Until now, discussions continue about how many really and what types of elephants are. More details about African and Asian elephants are written below.

African elephant

Conservation status: In a vulnerable position.

African elephants are the largest land animals in the world. Their trunk is an extension of the upper lip and nose and is used to communicate with other individuals, sort out objects and eat. African elephants, unlike Asian elephants, have two branches at the end of the trunk. Tusks, which grow throughout life, are observed in both males and females, are used in battles, for digging, and also for food. Another notable feature of African elephants is their huge ears, which allow them to cool the huge body.

Today, there are two types of African elephants:

Bush or bush elephant (Loxodonta africana);

Forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).

The bush species is larger than the forest species and has tusks curved outward. At the same time, the forest elephant is of a darker color with straight tusks directed downward. There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton.

Social structure

The social structure of elephants is organized around a herd of interconnected females and their offspring. In the savannah elephant, each family unit includes about 10 individuals, although there are also associations of these family units - "clans", which can number 70 individuals. Forest elephants live in small family associations. Herds can form temporary gatherings of elephants, numbering about 1000 individuals, mainly in East Africa. These associations arise during periods of drought, due to human intervention or any other change that degrades the standard model of existence. When threatened, elephants create a ring around the young and the matriarch (the main female), which can be attacked. Young elephants stay with their mother for many years and also receive care from other females in the herd.

Life cycle

As a rule, the female gives birth to one calf, once every 2.5-9 years, at the beginning of the rainy season. Pregnancy lasts 22 months. Cubs are breastfed for 6-18 months, although there are cases of feeding up to 6 years. Males leave the female after mating and tend to form alliances with other males. African elephants can have a lifespan of 70 years. Fertile age of females begins at 25 years old, lasts up to 45 years. Males need to be 20 years old to compete successfully for a female with other males.

The diet

African elephants prefer to eat leaves, branches of bushes and trees, but can eat grass, fruits and bark.

Historical habitat and population size

The habitat of the African elephant ranged across most of Africa, from the Mediterranean coast to the south of the continent. Scientists believe that between the 1930s and 1940s, there were more than 3-5 million African elephants. However, as a result of intensive hunting for trophies and tusks, populations of the species began to decline significantly since 1950. An estimated 100,000 were killed in the 1980s, and in some regions, up to 80% of the elephants were killed. In Kenya, the population fell by 85% between 1973 and 1989.

Population size and distribution at the current time

The forest species is distributed in the tropical forest zone in the west and in the center of Africa, where relatively large areas of dense forest are present. The bush elephant lives in the east and south of Africa. Most of the species is concentrated in Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa.

A significant number of elephants are devoid of well-protected areas - less than 20% are protected. In most West African countries, population estimates are carried out in only hundreds or tens of individuals living in small groups in an isolated forest. In contrast to the west of the continent, the elephant population in the south is larger and gradually increasing - more than 300,000 elephants are now wandering between subregions.

Threats

Elephants continue to roam throughout Africa. But these magnificent animals are endangered due to poaching and habitat loss. The population of elephants throughout Africa is in a different state, some are under great threat of extinction, while others are safe. South Africa has become the main support for elephants, on its territory, the number of individuals is gradually increasing.

Large populations of elephants are separated from well-protected areas where only a small number of animals live. The African elephant is threatened by illegal hunting for meat and ivory, loss of habitat, conflicts with humans. Most of the countries do not have sufficient capacity to protect the African elephant. In the absence of conservation action, in parts of Africa for over 50 years, elephants could become extinct animals.

In the early 1970s, demand for ivory increased and the amount of bone exported from Africa reached critical levels. Most of the goods that left Africa were declared illegal, with about 80% raw meat from slain elephants. This illegal trade has been a driving factor in the decline of the African elephant population from 3-5 million to its current level.

In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora banned the international trade in ivory to combat massive illegal trade. After the ban came into force, in 1990, some of the main ivory markets were eliminated. As a result, illegal killings have dropped dramatically in some African countries, especially in areas where elephants have not been adequately protected. This fact allowed the African elephant population to recover.

However, in countries where conservation authorities receive insufficient funding to combat poaching, the problem becomes significant. Uncontrolled domestic ivory markets in a number of states continue to grow. In addition, increased land-use pressures on the elephant population, cuts in protection budgets, and continued poaching for elephant bones and meat have kept the illegal killing of elephants widespread in some regions.

The uneven distribution of the population has created controversy over the conservation of the African elephant. Some people, mostly in southern countries where elephant numbers are increasing, believe that legal enforcement and control of the ivory trade can bring substantial economic benefits without jeopardizing the conservation of the species. Others are opposed because corruption and a lack of law enforcement will prevent reasonable trade from being controlled. Therefore, the illegal trade in ivory remains a real threat to the African elephant, and the preservation of the population is considered a priority.

As the elephant's habitat extends beyond protected areas, and as the rapid growth of human population and expansion of agricultural land, elephant habitat is increasingly shrinking. In this regard, a conflict arises between a man and an elephant. Farm boundaries prevent elephants from passing through migration corridors. The consequence is the destruction or damage of crops and small villages. Inevitable loss occurs on both sides, as people lose their means of subsistence due to elephants, and elephants lose their habitats, for which they often lose their lives. The human population continues to grow throughout the elephant territory, threatening habitat loss, a major threat.

The more we learn about elephants, the more the need to preserve them increases. The current generation needs to be inspired to help preserve these beautiful fauna for our future generations.

Asian elephant

Conservation status: Endangered species.
Listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The sacred Asian elephant, worshiped for centuries, is still used today for ceremonial and religious purposes. He is revered not only for his role in Asian culture, but also for being one of the key species in the tropical rainforests of Asia. Although populations of thousands of domesticated elephants are found in Southeast Asia, this magnificent animal is threatened with extinction in the wild due to the rapidly growing human population, displacing elephants from their usual habitat.

Wild elephant populations are small, because ancient migration routes are cut off by human settlements, they cannot reunite with other groups of elephants. Collisions between elephants and humans often result in the death of both sides. Today, widespread problems are: illegal poaching, ivory, meat and hides.

Description

The Asian elephant is considered the largest land mammal in Asia. It has relatively small ears, a single finger-like process at the end of the trunk, while the African elephant has two processes. A significant number of male Asian elephants lack tusks, and the percentage of males with one depends on the region - about 5% in Sri Lanka and up to 90% in southern India. Asian elephants constantly keep their ears in motion to cool their bodies. They have well-developed hearing, sight, smell, and are excellent swimmers. Dimensions: body length is 550-640 cm, height at the shoulders is 250-300 cm, weight is about 5000 kg. Color: varies from dark gray to brown, interspersed with pink on the forehead, ears, chest and at the base of the trunk.

Social structure

Asian elephants have a close social structure. Females are united in groups of 6-7 related individuals, headed by females "matriarchs". Like African elephants, groups can join other groups to form large herds that are relatively short-lived.

Life cycle

According to observers, the cubs of the Asian elephant can stand on their feet immediately after birth, and after a few months they begin to feed on grass and leaves. Babies remain under the care of the mother for several years, and begin to move independently after 4 years. At the age of 17, elephants reach their final size. Both sexes become sexually mature at the age of 9 years, but males usually do not begin sexual activity until 14-15 years old, and even at this age they are not capable of social dominance, which is a necessary component of successful reproductive activity.

Reproduction

In favorable living conditions, the female can give birth to cubs every 2.5-4 years, otherwise it happens every 5-8 years.

The diet

Elephants spend more than two-thirds of the day feeding on grass, tree bark, roots, leaves and small stems. Crops such as bananas, rice and sugarcane are preferred foods. Asian elephants should drink at least once a day, so they are always near fresh water sources.

Population and distribution

Their original habitat ranged from present-day Iraq and Syria to China's Yellow River Huang He, but now they are only found from India to Vietnam, with a tiny population settling in the southwest of China's Yunnan province. It is estimated that there were over 100,000 Asian elephants in the early 20th century. And over the past 60-75 years, the population has declined by at least 50%.

Threats

The ever-growing human population of tropical Asia has encroached on the dense but shrinking forested elephant habitat. About 20% of the world's population lives within or near the range of the Asian elephant. Competition for living space has resulted in a significant loss of forest cover as well as a decline in the Asiatic elephant population - 25,600-32,750 in the wild.

Populations of the Asian elephant have increased fragmentation, which results in a significant decrease in the chances of survival, since in the conditions of a growing human population, development projects are being created based on the construction of dams, roads, mines, industrial complexes, settlements. Most of the national parks and reserves where elephants live are too small to accommodate all viable populations. The transformation of forest land into agricultural land leads to serious conflicts between people and elephants. Elephants kill up to 300 people annually in India.

In Asian elephants, only males have tusks and therefore poaching is directed at them. Killing elephants for ivory and meat remains a serious problem in many countries, especially in southern India (where 90% of elephants are potential victims) and northeastern India, where some people feed on elephant meat. From 1995 to 1996, hidden poaching for bones and meat from Asian elephants increased. Illegal trade across the border between Thailand and Myanmar in live elephants, their bones, and skins has also become a major conservation problem. In 1997, seven years after the ivory trade was banned, illegal sales remained in the Far East, with South Korea, China and Taiwan remaining the main markets. However, most of this illegal production came from Africa, not Asian elephants.

The imprisonment of wild elephants for domestic retention has become a threat to wild populations, which have declined significantly. The governments of India, Vietnam, and Myanmar have banned the capture to conserve wild herds, but in Myanmar, elephants are captured every year for use in the timber industry or illegal trade. Unfortunately, rough fishing methods have resulted in high mortality rates. Efforts are being made not only to improve safety, but also to breed elephants in captivity. Considering that almost 30% of elephants live in captivity, it is necessary to increase their number by reintroducing individuals into the wild.

Elephant facts

• Lifespan: about 30 years in the wild and about 50 years in captivity.
• Pregnancy: 20 to 22 months.
• Number of cubs at birth: 1.
• Sexual maturity is 13-20 years old.
• Size: Females average 2.4 meters in height to the shoulders, and males 3-3.2 meters.
• Weight: The female African elephant weighs up to 3600 kg, and the male - 6800 kg. The female Asian elephant weighs on average 2720 kg, while the male weighs 5400 kg.
• Birth weight: 55-120 kg.
• Height at birth: 66-107 centimeters to the shoulders.
• The elephant's skin is so sensitive that the animal can feel the touch of a fly.
• The low, loud calls of one elephant can be heard by others up to 8 kilometers away.
• Elephants suffer from the hunt for their tusks, which are made of dentin, just like our teeth.
• In the Andaman Islands (India), elephants swim in the sea between the islands.
• The elephant skull weighs about 52 kilograms.
• Elephants mainly use one of their tusks. Therefore, one is often more worn than the other.
• The modern elephant is the only mammal that can remain well below the surface of the water, while the trunk is used as a breathing tube.
• Frequent bathing and dousing with water, as well as mud baths, are an important part of skin care.
• Unlike other mammals, elephants grow throughout their lives.
• Are elephants afraid of mice? Most likely, they are annoyed by small animals, so they try to scare or crush them.
• Elephants can remember good and bad things. Especially in zoos, they can remember people who did something good for them, or vice versa.
• Elephants sleep in a prone position for several hours, while, as noted by zoo staff, they may even snore.
• The African elephant, weighing about 6,300 kilograms, is capable of carrying up to 9,000 kilograms.

• KEY FACTS
• Name: African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
• Habitat: Africa, south of the Sahara Desert
• Number of herd formed by females: 6-8
• Pregnancy period: 22 months
• Gaining independence: 10-12 years

Lined up in a row, the elephants make the transition across the savannah to Samburu, Kenya. African elephants live in matriarchal societies led by an elder - the mother of the clan.

Elephants are the largest land mammals, and their social behavior deserves special attention.

Elephants live in matriarchal herds in which family ties are very strong. Animals are renowned for complex behaviors, and are even credited with expressing human emotions such as joy or sadness. In mythology and fiction, elephants symbolize wisdom and intelligence.

To find out how true this idea is, we propose to consider the features of the structure of the herd of elephants and the behavior of animals in it. Most of the scientific work is devoted to the behavior of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). We will also focus on it, and also mention the social behavior of the Asian (or Indian) elephant (Elephas maximus), which is in many ways similar to the social life of the African species.

One of the features of the social organization of elephants is the dominance of the female in the group. The herd is a group of elephants, led by the oldest and most experienced elephant - the head of the clan. The members of the herd are usually the relatives of the main elephant and their children. Usually in such a group there are from 6 to 12 animals, although it happens that the herd consists of 20 individuals.

This friendly elephant family has just taken a mud bath at Addo National Park in South Africa. The age difference between babies does not exceed four years.

The herd obeys the leadership of the main elephant. She chooses the best pastures and sources of water, and also decides on how to behave in a dangerous situation: if she runs away, the herd follows her, but if the main elephant decides to fight back, all other animals will join her.

Family bonds

In the herd, the elephants maintain a very close relationship. They help each other during childbirth and take care of the babies with the whole herd. If there is a woman in labor in the herd, the older elephant takes care of her and acts as a midwife. After birth, the mother and helper help the baby elephant to its feet. This is very important because the newborn is defenseless against predators. If a baby elephant that has not learned to walk is in danger, adults will not be able to carry it to safety. During puberty, female elephants take a special interest in elephants. It is believed that this behavior is part of the preparation for their future motherhood.

The glorious elephant often continues to lead the herd even after she can no longer have her own offspring. In the wild, elephants can live up to 70 years. Adults are so large that, perhaps, they have no other enemies besides humans. Elephants' lifespan is limited by the condition of their teeth. When the teeth become unusable, the animal cannot eat and dies of hunger.

After the death of the eldest elephant, her eldest daughter usually becomes the head of the herd. If there is not enough food or living space for a large herd, it is sometimes divided into two subgroups. Sometimes there is something like a "clash of personalities" between the members of the herd, and they can no longer get along with each other. In this case, one of the conflicting females leaves with her offspring and forms a new herd, where she will be the main elephant. Females remain in the herd all their lives, and males leave it at the age of 10-12 years.

In Masai Mara, Kenya, an African elephant calf, previously fed on its mother's milk, tastes solid food for the first time. The childhood of elephants lasts a long time: they become adults only at the age of 10-12 years.

This happens gradually: young males spend more and more time at the borders of the herd's range, until they eventually leave. Males, separated from the herd, form small groups (3-4 individuals), however, unlike female herds, these communities are short-lived, often disintegrate and change their composition. Groups of males usually travel much greater distances than herds of elephants. This is primarily due to the absence of young males in the communities. Adult males live alone and only during the mating season join the females for mating. At the end of this season, mature elephants usually return to their former herd.

Mating season

Elephants reach sexual maturity at the age of 15. In elephants, estrus lasts several days, approximately once every two months, during which time they respond to the courtship of males. In males at the same age, a black secret begins to stand out from the gland located between the ear and the eye. This discharge appears annually and usually lasts for three months. At this time, males have increased hormone levels, they become more excitable and aggressive. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on whether a similar phenomenon is observed in the Asian elephant and suggest that this feature is inherent only in the African species.

The signal for the beginning of the elephant breeding season is the appearance of a secret in males. When this happens, the male goes in search of a mate ready to mate. Courtship can last from 2-3 days to several weeks: the elephant is everywhere - it follows the elephant until she is ready to mate. In a dispute over the female, other elephants usually yield to the male who is ready for the mating season.

The mother protects the little African elephant from adversity. If he is in serious danger, he will hide between the legs of the elephant.

Newborn baby elephants

Pregnancy in females lasts 22 months. A newborn baby elephant depends on its mother in everything, although it seems very large and well-developed. For several months, he does not leave the elephant-hee even a step, and if he feels danger, he hides under her belly.

The baby elephant feeds on its mother's milk until it reaches the age of two. It happens that such feeding lasts longer, but by the age of 5 it is necessarily completed. The kid has to learn a lot from the mother, for example. how to use the trunk to get food, drink and take care of yourself. The offspring appears every 4 years, and sometimes less often. During this time, the female helps one baby elephant to become independent, and only then can pay attention to another newborn.

The elephant continues to learn a lot from the mother and other adults even after feeding has stopped. Due to hunting for elephants and poaching their tusks, elephants often find themselves in a difficult situation: if the main elephant and other adult animals die, the babies will never master the necessary skills. In hunting areas, young orphans often gather in large groups. The presence of such numerous congregations of young elephants indicates that these animals are experiencing serious difficulties in the area.

Young female elephants prefer to stay with their mother longer than male elephants. The latter are more active and disposed to communicate with other adult elephants, even if they belong to different herds. Perhaps this is why matured female elephants most often remain in their native herd, and males who have reached puberty leave.

Indian elephants, led by trainers, carry logs during a performance in honor of the King of Thailand. Although there are some differences between African and Asian species (especially in the size of the ears), many of their habits are the same.

It is not surprising that with such a high social organization, elephants are very sociable. They use a whole arsenal of sounds: from a loud roar, which they emit with a trunk, to a quiet grunt and rumbling. It is also noteworthy that elephants use a unique form of communication with the help of the so-called. infrasound - low-frequency waves that are not audible to humans. It is known that only whales and elephants can communicate in this way.

Infrasound messages include hazard warnings and signals indicating readiness to mate. This ability developed in elephants as a way of maintaining contact with each other in the wide expanses of the African savannah. Females are ready to mate for a short period, which is why males should find out about it as soon as possible.

Although elephants are nearsighted, they also use visual cues to communicate. In this they are helped by the trunk, ears and tail. For example, an aggressive elephant usually protrudes its ears, which makes it seem much larger and more threatening than it really is. Waving its trunk also indicates that the elephant is not in the best mood. Touch is a very important element of communication in elephants. For example, elephants examine each other with their trunks and even taste food from a friend's mouth. However, this is most often done by a baby elephant that has stopped receiving milk and learns to eat solid food from its mother's mouth.

Emotional animals

Emotions similar to human emotions have long been attributed to elephants. Indeed, female elephants show exceptional concern for other members of the herd. For example, if their brother is sick, injured or cannot walk, the female elephants will try not to leave him a single step and try to help him in every possible way. This can last for several days until the patient either recovers or dies. When the elephant dies, you can see how the other members of the herd are worried and worried.

A female African elephant with her three elephants at a watering hole in the Moremi Nature Reserve, Botswana. For these amazing creatures, only weapons pose a significant threat.

Many experts view this behavior as an expression of grief. Weeping elephants were also often observed, which suffered in captivity. In the wild, elephants have not seen tears.

Elephants are also known to take an interest in the remains of dead relatives - even the dried skeletons of long-dead animals. They usually study the dead body for a long time and carefully with the trunk and sensitive pads of the feet. If one of the representatives of the herd dies, the elephants begin to walk very slowly and observe silence. Sometimes they cover the body of a deceased fellow with branches and leaves. Animal observations indicate that elephants often return to the place where their relative died. This behavior of animals is interpreted by many as a manifestation of grief. If the baby elephant dies or is born dead, the mother usually stays close to the body for several days, gently stroking the baby, trying to get a response. During this period, the elephant does not eat anything, her reactions are weak or completely absent.

When members of the herd meet who are temporarily not living together, they rejoice and perform what is known as a "greeting ceremony." At the same time, elephants turn in one place, flap their ears, make loud sounds, and also defecate: in this way they give the former members of the herd a familiar scent family signal. Elephants are also one of those few species of animals that, even as adults, do not deny themselves the pleasure of indulging in games from time to time: they frolic, playfully attacking each other and making loud sounds.

• Did you know?
• The main female elephant is the largest, oldest and wisest female elephant in the herd. Usually her age is over 60 years old.
• Elephants are so intelligent animals that instincts do not play an important role in their development: they master most of the skills on their own, following the example of their elders. Therefore, the baby elephant remains with its mother until adolescence, like a human child. The elephant's brain is complex, weighs 4 times more than a human, and is the largest of all land mammals.
• The elephant's ears are well adapted to picking up low-frequency vibrations. This animal can hear infrasound within 4 km. And at dusk, when conditions are most favorable, the infrasound emitted by elephants can travel up to 10 km.