elefacts

Elephants are the largest land mammals
Wild elephants live in families called herds – herds are made up of female elephants.
The only males in these herds are the young calves
The leader of the herd is usually the oldest female – she is called the Matriarch
In the wild, a mother elephant has help with the babies from other elephants – who are known as Aunties. A new mother will choose her aunties and together they will raise the baby.
A young male elephant stays with the herd until he is about 15 years old. He then leaves and lives alone like most bull elephants

Elephants only eat plants, grass and fruit – they don’t eat meat.
Elephants love bananas
Elephants are so clever they can peel their own bananas, corn and lots of other food.

Elephants lovewater
They love to swim, bathe and play in rivers
A healthy adult elephant can drink up to 60 gallons of water each day – which is the same as about 275 big bottles of coke
To drink, they suck the water up into their trunk and spraying it into their mouths
They love squirting themselves and people with water using their trunk like a shower

The elephant’s trunk is one of nature most amazing creations
An elephant can pick up a coin with his trunk – he can also pick up a tree trunk.
The Asian elephant has one finger on the end of the trunk the African has two
The trunk is very sensitive and elephants are very careful and protective of them
The trunk is used to drink, smell, pick up food, touch and communicate.
It is used to tenderly touch a loved one or in self-defence as a weapon.

An elephant lives on average to the age of 70 – the same as humans
Elephants are very emotional – they cry when they are upset and squeak and trumpet when they are happy
Elephants are the only animals other than humans to grieve for the dead.
Elephants have very good memories
Elephants are scared of dogs
Elephants are so clever they even play jokes on humans
Domesticated elephants form a lifelong bond with their mahout