In 1970, 1.3 million elephants roamed Africa. Today there are fewer than 500,000, with roughly 35,000 being killed for their ivory every year.
An elephant’s trunk contains 100,000 different muscles. This intricate appendage is used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and even as a snorkel when swimming! African elephants have two fingerlike features at the end of their trunks, while Asian elephants only have one.
Elephants can spend 12 to 18 hours per day feeding—adults can eat between 90-272 kg (200-600 lbs) of food daily! Elephants will also eat dirt and clay to supplement their diet with necessary minerals and nutrients.
An elephant’s tusks continue to grow throughout its life, with male tusks weighing as much as seven times that of females’. These tusks are actually teeth—upper incisors to be exact.
I'm from Tulbagh, Western Cape, South Africa. Tulbagh is a small farming community.
Get Pushed Challenge: I have been doing this challenge on and off...
This is so amazing and I hope it appears on the pops page. I just heard a story on the radio about world elephant day. I agree with everything that's been said - terrific, special, lovely, wonderful, fantastic and great!
@semjaja there are some magnificent elephants in Kruger, we visited there June last year. Addo is much closer to us, so easier for us to visit. The elephant in Addo are not as aggressive as the ones in Kruger.
These are magnificent creatures. It saddens me greatly to think that they mean nothing to tusk hunters and game shooters. This is a great photo of them. FAV!
I knew that many years ago piano keys were made from ivory, but I heard on the news that one of the U.S. piano companies makes them from resin or plastic now, even for the very best concert hall pianos.
I am such a dork! As many times as I have enjoyed this picture, I just now noticed that there's a third, littlest elephant right in the center of the picture! I have been enjoying the two elephants, and the view beyond them . Are there 5 elephants in this picture, I am not sure now! Either way I am enjoying them soooo much!
cool shot Sally
I am such a dork! As many times as I have enjoyed this picture, I just now noticed that there's a third, littlest elephant right in the center of the picture! I have been enjoying the two elephants, and the view beyond them . Are there 5 elephants in this picture, I am not sure now! Either way I am enjoying them soooo much!