ELEPHANT

Elephants are large mammals of the Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. Two species are traditionally recognised, the African elephant (loxondonta africana) and the Asian elephant (elephas maximus), although some evidence suggest that African bush elephants and aftrican forest elephants are seperate species (L. africana and L. cyclotis respectively).Elephants are scattered throughout sub-saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, mastodons. Male African elephants are the largest extant terrestrials animals and can reach a height of 4m (13 ft) and weigh 7,000kg (15.000 1b).

All elephants have several distinctive features, the most notable of which is a long trunk of proboscis, used for many purposes, particularly breathing, lifting water and grasping objects. Their incisors grow into tusks, which can serve as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. elephants large ear flaps help to control their body temperature. Their pillar-like legs can carry their great weight. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs while Asian elephants have smaller ears and ears and convex or level backs

Elephants are herbivorous and can be found in different habitats including savannahs, forests, dersets and marshes. They prefer to stay near water.

WHERE WILL YOU FIND THEM

you will find elephants at pen E22, right next to the amphitheatre.