African elephants are the largest land mammal on earth. They are herbivores, and they live in dense forests to open plains. They weigh about 5,00 to 14,000 lbs. They are a threatened species and their predator is human.
African elephants are endangered for their tusks. People find these tusks valuable from elephants, but they do not know how amazing these animals are. Now, we will first explain what these animals look on the outside.
African elephants have ears that look like the continent Africa. Their ears radiate heat to keep cool. They are slightly larger than their Asian cousins. These species are the largest land mammals on earth. Their tusks have more than 100,000 muscles. The males use the trunks to fight. When the elephants are born they weigh at least 200 to 300 pounds.
The African elephants enjoy showering water by using their trunks to suck up water and spraying it on their back. The males leave the herd at the ages of 13 to 15. African elephants are not as domesticated as their Asian cousins. They need large amounts of food. Elephants eat grass, leaves, bark, and roots. Elephants use their trunks to grab small items. They have a longer time of pregnancy than any other animal, 22 months. They can communicate faster than a human’s voice can go.
People use the ivory from elephants to make things and sell. The population used to be over a million, but now there are only 400,000 to 700,000 African elephants left. These amazing animals are endangered and we need to help and protect them.
Works Cited:
"African Elephants." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015.
"Basic Facts About Elephants." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 18 Mar. 2012. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
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