We continue to dive into the fantastic world of savannah inhabitants, and today’s article will be dedicated to the African elephant. Watching these giants on safari is always mesmerizing—their outstanding strength combined with exquisite delicacy. We are sure that after learning these fascinating facts about African elephants, you will look forward to meeting these phenomenal creatures and watching them with even more admiration. So, here are the top 7 incredible facts about African elephants!
Elephants have an excellent memory
Let’s start with the fact that elephants have the largest brains of any land mammal. Their unbelievable memory allows them to remember routes to watering holes, recognize their fellow creatures even after long periods of separation, and even hold a grudge. Having met an elephant once and seeing it again in a few years, it will remember you! These unique qualities of elephants highlight not only their outstanding intellectual abilities but also the deep emotional bonds they form with their environment.
Elephants can express emotions
Many emotions, such as love, sadness, empathy, and depression, are not alien to elephants. Social animals by nature, elephants live in large family groups, where supporting each other is an integral part of their behavior. When one of its relatives feels bad, the elephant can express sympathy by touching the other animal with its trunk.
When the animal sees its congener or another elephant in trouble, it calls for help by sounding an alert call. In addition, elephants exhibit mourning for deceased members of their family, similar to human expressions of grief. They hold peculiar funeral ceremonies and, over some time, return to the grave, touching the remains of the deceased as a sign of grief. These features reveal the deep emotional and social aspects of elephant life.
Baby elephants cannot survive without their mother
Intelligent and social, elephants pass on their valuable knowledge from generation to generation. Babies will learn from their mothers, especially in obtaining food and water, strategies for dealing with dangerous situations, and many other skills. In the African savanna, where living conditions are often harsh, the transmission of this important information from parents to offspring is crucial.
If, for some reason, a baby elephant becomes an orphan, it faces serious difficulties in survival and ultimately risks death.
There is a foundation in Kenya dedicated to caring for orphaned elephants. Such babies end up in a specialized shelter in Nairobi, where the animals receive the necessary conditions, food, and care similar to maternal care. When the elephants reach three years of age, they are transported to the adaptation center in Tsavo, where they gradually adapt to the conditions of the savannah and can leave the center when they are ready. This innovative approach from the David Sheldrick Foundation is saving individual lives and ensuring the survival of entire generations of elephants. We talked more about this fund in one of our articles; if you haven’t read it yet, we recommend it! This project deserves attention for its unique effectiveness and significance for the conservation of biodiversity.
Bishops can be left-handed or right-handed
Like humans, African elephants can be left- or right-handed, although this is expressed by using tusks. Elephants have a so-called “working” tusk, which has a rougher and shorter structure. This is because this canine is subject to more wear and tear, as it bears the bulk of the load. In this aspect, elephants show a surprising analogy with humans, showing individual characteristics and preferences in using their natural tools.
Elephant gestation period is 22 months
African elephants are absolute record holders in the animal world because their pregnancy lasts as long as 22 months. In addition, females are capable of giving birth to cubs once every five years. This feature of bearing babies explains such a strong bond between mother and baby.
The lifespan of an elephant is approximately 70 years
The lifespan of African elephants is directly related to the characteristics of their teeth. An elephant’s teeth are renewed six times during its life. The last teeth wear down around the age of 70, causing the elephant to no longer feed effectively and eventually die from exhaustion.
Tusks are an important and, at the same time, dangerous attribute for an elephant
In reality, elephants’ tusks are simply their teeth, which begin to form at the age of 2 years. Elephants use their tusks for a variety of purposes, including foraging for food, such as stripping bark from trees or digging up roots. In addition, their tusks serve as a means of protection.
However, the unique properties of elephant tusks put them under constant threat. Currently, poachers continue to hunt elephants to obtain precious ivory. This practice poses serious threats to the survival of these mighty animals and highlights the need to combat poaching and conserve African elephants.
Are you planning to meet African elephants in their natural environment?
The densest population of elephants lives in Chobe National Park in Botswana. Large families of elephants also live in Tanzania, in Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater parks. In Kenya, you can find these majestic creatures in the Masai Mara, Tsavo, Amboseli, and Samburu. Regardless of the chosen country or national park, the chances of meeting African elephants during a safari are almost guaranteed.
If you are dreaming of an unforgettable African trip, contact us, and we will organize it for you. Our experts are always in touch, ready to provide advice and help in making your dream of an exciting safari come true.