Where do elephants come from. Elephant - description, species, where he lives. Diet in the natural environment

Elephants are large mammals, which include two species: African and Indian. Previously, Mammoths lived on Earth (died out during the ice age) and mastodons (died out during the appearance of the first man on the North American mainland). In the article we will answer the question: "Where do elephants live?" and consider their habitat and habits.

Differences between Indian and African elephants

Despite the apparent absolute similarity in Indian and African elephants, there are many differences. Let's consider them in more detail.

1. African elephants are larger and heavier than their Indian relatives. The height of an adult animal living in Africa reaches 3.7 meters, and its weight is 6.5 tons. For comparison, in Indian relatives, these figures are at the level of 3.5 meters and 5 tons.
2. African elephants have larger ears, through the thin skin of which the veins are clearly visible. It is noteworthy that for each individual, the pattern of veins on the ears is individual, like fingerprints in humans.
3. A distinctive feature of African elephants is the presence of long, strong tusks in each animal, regardless of gender. In Indian elephants, only males have such an ornament. Tusks grow throughout life and act as an indicator of age.
4. The Indian elephant is calmer. Thanks to simple training, he becomes a reliable assistant to a person. He is trained to transport trees, stack planks, or retrieve items from rivers.

These are not all interesting facts about these animals. The following information will be useful to schoolchildren who want to get the maximum score for the exam. Among the elephants there are "left-handers" and "right-handers". Belonging to a certain category is determined by which tusk is shorter. These animals work with one tusk, as a result of which it wears out faster.

Elephant bone is expensive as an ornamental base, so they often die at the hands of poachers. Now the trade in ivory has been banned, but still, a hundred of these amazing animals die every year due to human fault.

Elephants have 4 molars. The weight of each tooth the size of a brick reaches 2-3 kilograms. Animals change their molars 6 times during their life. With age, the sensitivity of the teeth increases, which forces the animals to stay closer to the swampy area with soft vegetation.

The elephant differs from other animals in its impressive body weight, design, behavior and the presence of a long nose. The trunk is the connection of the upper lip and nose, with which he takes a shower, breathes, sniffs, drinks and makes sounds. With this organ, containing 100 thousand muscles, the animal takes objects weighing up to a ton and carries tens of kilometers.

Elephant habitat and habits

The African giant lives in the steppes of Africa and Egypt. Indian individuals live in India, Ceylon, Indochina, Burma.

• Elephants live in herds of up to 50 individuals who are bound by norms of behavior. Some live separately, as they are more likely to show aggression and are dangerous.
• There is a friendly atmosphere in the herd, relatives take care of the offspring, support each other.
• These are socially developed animals. They can show emotions and remember things, places, and people.

Elephants eat 130 kg of food per day (leaves, bark, fruits) and spend most of their time looking for it. Sleep no more than 4 hours a day. Animals are often near rivers or lakes and drink 200 liters of water per day. The elephant is a good swimmer and easily swims great distances regardless of body weight.

The giant has a massive skeleton, accounting for 15% of its body weight. The skin cover reaches a thickness of 25 mm and is shrouded in sparse hairs. On average, an elephant lives 70 years. He does not know how to jump, but accelerates the speed of running up to 30 km per hour.

The female carries the baby for 88 weeks. This is an animal record. An elephant calf is born every four years with a weight of about 90 kg and a height of about a meter. The birth of a baby is important for the members of the herd.

These mammals have a clear language of communication. When the elephant is depressed or aggressive, the ears become spread. For protection, tusks, a trunk and massive legs are used. At the moment of danger or fright, the animal squeals and, running away, literally demolishes everything in its path.

Where do elephants live in captivity?

Elephants are present in almost every zoo. No wonder, because they are of particular interest to the public. But sometimes even well-known zoos, due to the lack of a suitable place for keeping, refuse these animals.

In a confined space, elephants suffer from boredom. In their natural environment, they spend a lot of time looking for and absorbing food. It is not possible to roam enough in a small pen, and a small number of individuals leads to a violation of social contacts.

European zoos are trying to provide elephants with spacious paddocks for walking. Less complaisant males, who are dangerous in a state of unrest, are allocated additional space. Some zoos provide pens for females with offspring. This allows members of a small herd to get acquainted with the replenishment.

Of great importance in breeding elephants is the diversity of walking. Large elephant enclosures equip the enclosures so that the animals move freely. Such conditions are more suitable for successful breeding in captivity.

Elephants are socially developed mammals. For many reasons, this species is on the verge of extinction. Animals need protection and protection. This fact found a lot of positive feedback among scientists and officials. Reserves are being actively created where animals live under protection. The territory of such complexes should correspond to the usual habitat. At the moment, several reserves meet these requirements, including:

1. Bandipur National Park, India.
2. Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
3. Elephant Sanctuary in Knysna, South Africa.
4. Elephant Sanctuary Kuala Gandah, Malaysia.
5. Elephant Safari Park, Bali.

Each of these places is ideal for entertaining summer holidays.

People harm the environment, so many species of animals are dying out, but there is hope that one of the largest mammals - elephants will continue to live not only in captivity, but also in their native environment. The task of a person is to help children to enjoy the greatness of these animals in the expanses of the savannah and forests.

• KEY FACTS
• Name: African elephant (Loxodonta africana)
• Range: Africa, southern Sahara desert
• Number of herd formed by females: 6-8
• Pregnancy period: 22 months
• Gaining independence: 10-12 years

Lined up in a row, elephants make a transition through the savannah to Samburu (Kenya). African elephants live in matriarchal communities headed by an elder - the mother of the clan.

Elephants are the largest land mammals whose social behavior deserves special attention.

Elephants live in matriarchal herds in which family ties are very strong. Animals are famous for their complex forms of behavior, they are even credited with the ability to express such human emotions as joy or sadness. In mythology and fiction, elephants symbolize wisdom and intelligence.

To find out how true this idea is, we propose to consider the features of the structure of the herd of elephants and the behavior of animals in it. Most of the scientific work is devoted to the behavior of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). We will also focus on it, and also mention the social behavior of the Asian (or Indian) elephant (Elephas maximus), which is in many ways similar to the social life of the African species.

One of the features of the social organization of elephants is the dominance of the female in the group. The herd is a group of elephants led by the oldest and most experienced female elephant - the head of the clan. The members of the herd are usually the female relatives of the head elephant and their children. Usually in such a group from 6 to 12 animals, although it happens that the herd consists of 20 individuals.

This friendly family of elephants just took a mud bath in South Africa's Addo National Park. The age difference between the kids does not exceed four years.

The herd obeys the leadership of the head elephant. She chooses the best pastures and water sources, and also decides on behavior in a dangerous situation: if she runs away, then the herd follows her, but if the main elephant decides to fight back, all other animals will join her.

Family bonds

In the herd, female elephants maintain very close relationships. They help each other during childbirth and take care of the babies with the whole herd. If there is a woman in labor in the herd, the head elephant takes care of her and acts as a midwife. After birth, the mother and helper help the baby elephant to his feet. This is very important, because the newborn is defenseless against predators. If a baby elephant that has not learned to walk is in danger, adults will not be able to carry it to safety. During puberty, female elephants show a special interest in baby elephants. It is believed that this behavior is part of the preparation for their future motherhood.

A nice female elephant often continues to lead the herd even after she can no longer have her own offspring. In the wild, elephants can live up to 70 years. Adult individuals are so large that, perhaps, they have no other enemies than humans. The lifespan of elephants is limited by the condition of their teeth. When the teeth become unusable, the animal cannot eat and dies of hunger.

After the death of the eldest female elephant, her eldest daughter usually becomes the head of the herd. If there is not enough food or living space for a large herd, sometimes it is divided into two subgroups. Sometimes between the members of the herd there is something like a "clash of personalities", and they can no longer get along with each other. In this case, one of the conflicting females leaves with her offspring and forms a new herd, where she will be the main elephant. Females remain in the herd all their lives, and males leave it at the age of 10-12 years.

In the Masai Mara, Kenya, an African elephant calf that previously fed on its mother's milk tastes solid food for the first time. The childhood of elephants lasts a long time: they become adults only at 10-12 years old.

This happens gradually: young males spend more and more time on the borders of the range of the herd, until they eventually leave. Males that separated from the herd form small groups (3-4 individuals), however, unlike female herds, these communities are short-lived, often break up and change their composition. Groups of males usually cover much greater distances compared to herds of elephants. This is primarily due to the absence of young males in the communities. Adult males live alone and only during the mating season join the females for mating. At the end of this season, sexually mature elephants usually return to their former herd.

mating season

Elephants reach sexual maturity at the age of 15 years. Elephants are in heat for several days, about once every two months, during which time they respond to male courtship. In males at the same age, a black secret begins to stand out from the gland located between the ear and the eye. Such secretions appear annually and usually last for three months. At this time, the level of hormones in males rises, they become more excitable and aggressive. Scientists have not yet reached a consensus on whether a similar phenomenon is observed in the Asian elephant and suggest that this feature is unique to the African species.

The signal for the beginning of the breeding season for elephants is the appearance of a secret in males. When this happens, the male goes in search of a partner ready to mate. Courtship can last from 2-3 days to several weeks: the elephant is everywhere - follows the female elephant until she is ready to mate. In a dispute over a female, other elephants usually give way to the male who is ready for the mating season.

Mom protects a small African elephant from adversity. If he is in serious danger, he will hide between the legs of the elephant.

Newborn baby elephants

Pregnancy of females lasts 22 months. A newborn baby elephant depends on the mother in everything, although it seems very large and well developed. For several months, he does not leave the elephant-hee a single step, and if he feels danger, he hides under her stomach.

An elephant calf feeds on its mother's milk until it reaches the age of two. It happens that such feeding lasts longer, but by the age of 5 it must be completed. A baby needs to learn a lot from his mother, for example. how to use the trunk to get food, drink and take care of yourself. Offspring appear at intervals of 4 years, and sometimes less often. During this time, the female helps one baby elephant to become independent, and only then can pay attention to another newborn.

The elephant continues to learn a lot from the mother and other adults even after the feeding is stopped. Because of the hunting of elephants and the poaching of their tusks, baby elephants often find themselves in a difficult situation: if the main elephant and other adult animals die, the kids will never master the necessary skills. In hunting areas, young orphans often gather in large groups. The presence of such numerous concentrations of young elephants indicates that these animals are experiencing serious difficulties in this area.

Young female elephants prefer to stay with their mother longer than male elephants. The latter are more active and disposed to communicate with other adult elephants, even if they belong to other herds. Perhaps that is why mature female elephants most often remain in their own herd, and males who have reached puberty leave.

Indian elephants, led by trainers, carry logs during a performance in honor of the King of Thailand. Although there are some differences between the African and Asian species (especially in the size of the ears), many of their habits are the same.

It is not surprising that with such a high social organization, elephants are very sociable. They use a whole arsenal of sounds: from a loud roar that they make with their trunk, to quiet grunts and rumblings. It is also noteworthy that elephants enjoy a unique type of communication with the help of the so-called. infrasound - low-frequency waves that are not audible to humans. It is known that only whales and elephants have this way of communication.

The messages transmitted by infrasound include a warning of danger and signals indicating that they are ready to mate. This ability has evolved among elephants as a way to maintain contact with each other in the wide expanses of the African savannas. Females are ready to mate within a short period, which is why males should find out about this as soon as possible.

Although elephants are nearsighted, they also use visual cues to communicate. The trunk, ears and tail help them in this. For example, an aggressive elephant usually sticks out its ears, which makes it seem much larger and more threatening than it really is. The waving of the trunk also indicates that the elephant is not in the best mood. A very important element of communication in elephants is touch. For example, elephants use their trunks to examine each other and even taste food from a friend's mouth. However, most often this is done by a baby elephant who has stopped receiving milk and is learning to eat solid food from the mother's mouth.

emotional animals

Since ancient times, elephants have been credited with emotions similar to human ones. Indeed, female elephants show exceptional concern for other members of the herd. For example, if their brother is sick, injured or unable to walk, the female elephants will try not to leave him a single step and try to help him in every possible way. This may take several days until the patient either recovers or dies. When an elephant dies, you can see how other members of the herd are worried and worried.

A female African elephant with her three calves at a watering hole in the Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana. For these amazing creatures, only weapons pose a significant threat.

Many experts consider this behavior an expression of grief. Weeping elephants were also often observed, which suffered in captivity. In the wild, tears have not been seen in elephants.

Elephants have also been known to take an interest in the remains of dead relatives - even the desiccated skeletons of long-dead animals. They usually study the dead body for a long time and carefully with their trunk and sensitive foot pads. If one of the representatives of the herd dies, the elephants begin to walk very slowly and keep silence. Sometimes they cover the body of a deceased fellow with branches and leaves. Animal observations indicate that elephants often return to the place where their relative died. This behavior of animals is interpreted by many as a manifestation of grief. If a baby elephant dies or is stillborn, the mother usually stays close to the body for several days, gently petting the baby, trying to get a response. During this period, the elephant does not eat anything, her reactions are weak or completely absent.

If there are members of the herd who are temporarily not living together, then they rejoice and perform an act known as the "greeting ceremony". At the same time, the elephants spin in one place, flap their ears, make loud noises, and also defecate: in this way they give the former members of the herd a familiar odorous family signal. Elephants are also among those few species of animals that, even as adults, do not deny themselves the pleasure of indulging in games from time to time: they frolic, playfully attacking each other and making loud noises.

• Did you know?
• The head elephant is the largest, oldest and wisest elephant in the herd. Usually her age is over 60 years.
• Elephants are such smart animals that instincts do not play an important role in their development: they master most of the skills on their own, taking an example from their elders. Therefore, a baby elephant remains with its mother until adolescence, like a human child. The elephant's brain has a complex structure, weighs 4 times more than a human and is the largest among all land mammals.
• Elephant ears are perfectly adapted to pick up low-frequency vibrations. This animal can hear infrasound within 4 km. And at dusk, when the conditions are most favorable, the infrasound emitted by elephants can cover a distance of up to 10 km.



The elephant is the largest land animal of the class mammals, such as chordates, proboscis order, elephant family (lat. Elephantidae).

Elephant - description, characteristics and photo

Elephants are giants among animals. The height of the elephant is 2 - 4 m. The weight of the elephant is from 3 to 7 tons. Elephants in Africa, especially savannas, often weigh up to 10 - 12 tons. The powerful body of an elephant is covered with thick (up to 2.5 cm) brown or gray skin with deep wrinkles. Elephant cubs are born with sparse bristles, adults are practically devoid of vegetation.

Head The animal is quite large with ears of noteworthy size. Ears elephants have a fairly large surface, they are thick at the base with thin edges, as a rule, they are a good regulator of heat exchange. Fanning the ears allows the animal to increase the cooling effect. Leg The elephant has 2 kneecaps. This structure makes the elephant the only mammal that cannot jump. In the center of the foot is a fat cushion that springs up with every step, which allows these powerful animals to move almost silently.

Elephant's trunk- an amazing and unique organ formed by a fused nose and upper lip. Tendons and over 100,000 muscles make him strong and flexible. The trunk performs a number of important functions, at the same time providing the animal with breathing, smelling, touching and grabbing food. Through the trunk, elephants protect themselves, water themselves, eat, communicate and even raise their offspring. Another "attribute" of appearance is the tusks of an elephant. They grow throughout life: the more powerful the tusks, the older their owner.

Tail elephant is about the same length as the hind legs. The tip of the tail is framed by coarse hair that helps to repel insects. The voice of an elephant is specific. The sounds that an adult animal makes are called boars, lowing, whispering and roaring of an elephant. The life expectancy of an elephant is approximately 70 years.

Elephants can swim very well and love water procedures, and their average speed of movement on land reaches 3-6 km / h. When running for short distances, the speed of an elephant sometimes increases to 50 km / h.

Elephant species

Nowadays, there are only two types of proboscis: the African elephant and the Indian elephant (otherwise it is called the Asian elephant). African, in turn, are divided into savannas living along the equator (the largest representatives are up to 4.5 m in height and 7 tons of weight) and forest (its subspecies are dwarf and swamp), which prefer to live in tropical forests.

Despite the undeniable similarities of these animals, they still have a number of differences.

• It is very simple to answer the question which elephant is larger in size and mass: Indian or African. The one that lives in Africa: individuals weigh 1.5-2 tons more, and much higher.
• The Asian female elephant does not have tusks, while African ones have them in all individuals.
• The species differ slightly in the shape of the body: in Asians, the back is higher relative to the level of the head.
• The African animal is distinguished by its large ears.
• The trunks of African giants are somewhat thinner.
• By its nature, the Indian elephant is more prone to domestication; it is almost impossible to tame its African counterpart.

It is Asian animals that are often accepted into circuses for their obedience and good disposition. Basically, these are rescued from poachers, sick and abandoned cubs.

When crossing the African and Indian proboscis, the offspring does not work out, which indicates differences at the genetic level.

The life expectancy of an elephant depends on living conditions, the availability of sufficient food and water. It is believed that the African elephant lives somewhat longer than its counterpart.

Ancestors of modern giants

Ancient relatives of the proboscis appeared on earth approximately 65 million years ago, in the Paleocene era. Dinosaurs were still walking the planet at that time.

Scientists have found that the first representatives lived on the territory of modern Egypt and looked more like a tapir. There is another theory according to which the current giants descended from some animal that lived in Africa and almost all of Eurasia.

Studies that reveal how many years an elephant lives on our planet indicate the existence of its ancestors.

• Deinotherium. Appeared approximately 58 million years ago and died out 2.5 million years ago. Outwardly, they were similar to modern animals, but were noted for their smaller size and shorter trunk.
• Gomphotheria. Appeared on earth about 37 million years ago and died out 10 thousand years ago. Their body resembled the current long-nosed giants, but they had 4 small tusks, twisted up and down in pairs, and a flat jaw. At some stage of development, the tusks of these animals became much larger.
• Mamutids (mastodons). Appeared 10-12 million years ago. They had dense hair on their bodies, long tusks and a trunk. They died out 18 thousand years ago, with the advent of primitive people.
• Mammoths. The first representatives of elephants. Appeared from mastodons approximately 1.6 million years ago. They died out about 10 thousand years ago. They were slightly taller than modern animals, the body is covered with long and dense hair, they had large tusks down.

Mammoths belong to the same order of elephants as modern giants.

The African elephant and the Indian elephant are the only representatives of the proboscis order that exist on Earth.

Elephant habitat and habits

The African giant lives in the steppes of Africa and Egypt. Indian individuals live in India, Ceylon, Indochina, Burma.

• Elephants live in herds of up to 50 individuals who are bound by norms of behavior. Some live separately, as they are more likely to show aggression and are dangerous.
• There is a friendly atmosphere in the herd, relatives take care of the offspring, support each other.
• These are socially developed animals. They can show emotions and remember things, places, and people.

Elephants eat 130 kg of food per day (leaves, bark, fruits) and spend most of their time looking for it. Sleep no more than 4 hours a day. Animals are often near rivers or lakes and drink 200 liters of water per day. The elephant is a good swimmer and easily swims great distances regardless of body weight.

The giant has a massive skeleton, accounting for 15% of its body weight. The skin cover reaches a thickness of 25 mm and is shrouded in sparse hairs. On average, an elephant lives 70 years. He does not know how to jump, but accelerates the speed of running up to 30 km per hour.

The female carries the baby for 88 weeks. This is an animal record. An elephant calf is born every four years with a weight of about 90 kg and a height of about a meter. The birth of a baby is important for the members of the herd.

These mammals have a clear language of communication. When the elephant is depressed or aggressive, the ears become spread. For protection, tusks, a trunk and massive legs are used. At the moment of danger or fright, the animal squeals and, running away, literally demolishes everything in its path.

Diet in the natural environment

Elephants are the largest land mammals inhabiting our planet, and two continents have become their habitat: Africa and Asia. The main differences between the African and Asian elephants are represented not only by the shape of the ears, the presence and size of the tusks, but also by the peculiarities in the diet. Basically, the diet of all elephants is not very diverse.. A large land mammal feeds on grass, leaves, bark and branches of trees, as well as the roots of various plants and all kinds of fruits.

It is interesting! To obtain food, elephants use a natural tool - a trunk, through which vegetation can break both from the bottom of the trees, and directly near the ground, or break out with a crown.

It should be noted that the body of the Asian and African elephant absorbs no more than 40% of the total amount of all plant mass eaten during the day. The search for food occupies a significant part of the life of such a mammal. For example, in order to get enough food for itself, an adult African elephant is able to walk almost 400-500 km. But for Asian or Indian elephants, the migration process is unnatural.

Herbivorous Indian elephants spend about twenty hours a day searching for food and feeding. In the hottest daytime hours, elephants try to hide in the shade, which allows the animal to avoid severe overheating. The peculiarities of the habitat of the Indian elephant explain the type of its nutrition in natural conditions.

To collect too short grass, the elephant first actively loosens or digs up the soil, hitting it hard with its feet. The bark from large branches is scraped off by molars, while the plant branch itself is held by the trunk.

In too hungry and dry years, elephants are very willing to ruin agricultural crops. Rice crops, as well as banana plantations and fields sown with sugar cane, as a rule, suffer the most from the invasions of this herbivorous mammal. It is for this reason that elephants today are among the largest agricultural "pests" in terms of body size and gluttony.

Nutrition in captivity

Currently, wild Indian or Asian elephants are endangered, so such animals are often kept in protected areas or zoological parks. In nature and in captivity, elephants live in complex social groups within which strong bonds are observed, which facilitates the process of foraging and feeding animals. When kept in captivity, the mammal receives a huge amount of greenery and hay. The daily diet of such a large herbivore must be supplemented with root crops, dried white bread rolls, carrots, cabbage heads and fruits.

It is interesting! Among the favorite treats of the Indian and African elephant are bananas, as well as low-calorie cookies and other sweets.

It should be noted that elephants do not know the limits when eating sweets, therefore they are prone to overeating and rapid weight gain, which has an extremely negative effect on the health of the animal. In this case, the proboscis animal acquires unnatural behavior, characterized by a staggering gait or apathy with loss of appetite.

It is important to remember that elephants living in natural conditions move a lot and very actively.. In order to find enough food to maintain life and maintain health, a mammal is able to travel a considerable distance every day. In captivity, the animal is deprived of such an opportunity, so quite often elephants in zoos have problems with weight or the digestive system.

In the zoo, the elephant is fed about five or six times a day, and the daily diet of a mammal in the Moscow Zoological Park is represented by the following main products:

• brooms from tree branches - about 6-8 kg;
• grass and hay with straw additives - about 60 kg;
• oats - about 1-2 kg;
• oatmeal - about 4-5 kg;
• bran - about 1 kg;
• fruits represented by pears, apples and bananas - about 8 kg;
• carrots - about 15 kg;
• cabbage - about 3 kg;
• beets - about 4-5 kg.

The summer-autumn menu of the elephant includes watermelons, as well as boiled potatoes, without fail. All fruits and vegetables given to a mammal are cut rather carefully, after which they are well mixed with grass flour or lightly chopped high-quality hay and straw. The resulting nutrient mixture is scattered over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe enclosure.

elephant breeding

Elephant breeding is not at all connected with any particular season, but most calving is associated with the arrival of rains. In crowded conditions or during times of drought, the sexual activity of these animals is significantly reduced, females do not ovulate at all.

Males, on the other hand, are looking for females that are in oestrus, staying with them for no more than a few weeks. The duration of estrus passes within 48 hours, at which time the female calls the male with cries. Often, before mating, the female and male retire for a while and move away from their herd.

Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal. It lasts about 20-22 months. Rarely, a female gives birth to twins, most often gives birth to 1 developed baby elephant. A newborn elephant weighs around 120 kilograms, the height at the shoulders is 1 meter, the length of the trunk is short, there are no tusks. The birth of the female takes place at a distance from her herd, most often the birthing elephant is accompanied by a "midwife". Approximately 15-30 minutes after birth, the baby elephant rises to its feet and begins to follow the mother. Up to 4 years old, the baby elephant is in dire need of maternal care, young immature females of 2-11 years old are watching the growing elephant, who, in turn, are preparing for the upcoming maternal care.

Research in Kenya in 1992 showed that the greater the number of caregivers, the more babies survive.

Milk feeding continues up to 1-5 years, although the cubs begin to eat solid food at the age of 6 months, and at the same time they are able to switch to it by the age of 2 years. Elephant births take place once every 2.5-9 years, as a rule, the baby elephant stays with her mother until the next birth.

Young female elephants remain in their herd until the end of their days, in turn, the elephants leave when they reach puberty, which occurs by 10 and 12 years.

These animals show diversity in terms of puberty among all mammals: the minimum age in females was 7 years. In poor conditions, female elephants reach puberty at the age of 18-19 years, sometimes 22 years.
The peak of the highest fertility ranges from 18-19 years.

Females remain fertile up to 60 years. No more than nine babies are brought in a lifetime. Males reach puberty at 10-12 years old, but they begin to mate at 25-30 years old, and the reason for this is a lot of competition among males. The reproductive peak is reached at 50 years of age. At the age of 25, males periodically enter a state of intoxication. It is with this condition that their excessive aggressiveness and sexual activity are associated.
By and large, elephants often show relatively high reproductive activity and flexibility. However, under adverse conditions (food competition, terrible feeding conditions from other elephants), the time of puberty increases significantly and the interval between births can both increase and vice versa fall. Elephants are amazing animals, they live up to about 60-70 years, and throughout their life they slowly grow and develop, and this applies to puberty, which greatly affects the reproduction of offspring.

Why are elephants afraid of mice?

Many people know about the subconscious fear that giant elephants allegedly have for small representatives of the rodent family - mice. But not everyone knows that this fact is, most likely, a myth. There is a legend according to which in ancient times there were so many mice that they dared to attack elephant legs, gnawed the limbs of animals almost to the bone and equipped minks there. That is why since then elephants began to sleep not lying down, but standing up. There is little logic in this, because many animals sleep standing up, for example, horses, which are not at all afraid of mice. But to assume that a rodent can climb into the trunk of a lying elephant and block its air supply, which would lead to the death of an elephant - much more likely, especially since several such cases have been recorded.

There is another theory, a little funny, but still: mice, climbing an elephant, strongly tickle the giant with their tenacious paws, from which the elephant feels a constant need to itch, and it is quite difficult for him to do this. However, all such assumptions were debunked by scientists: they were convinced that elephants are absolutely indifferent to mice, peacefully coexist with them in zoo enclosures, allowing tiny rodents to feast on the remnants of their meal, and are not at all afraid of them.

• Among the elephants there are right-handers and left-handers, which affects the greater use of one of the tusks.
• The special structure of the hearing aid allows elephants to communicate with each other at low frequencies, covering vast distances.
• An elephant is an animal that does not sweat because it lacks sebaceous glands. Water treatments, mud baths and ear fanning help to lower body temperature.
• Elephants are easily tamed and trainable. In ancient times, they were an excellent work force and fighting animals. Today, elephants are used as a means of transportation in impassable places.
• Adult elephants are practically invulnerable, lions and crocodiles are a danger to small elephants. The only enemy of elephants is a man who ruthlessly exterminates animals for meat, skin and bones. Barbaric fishing led to a sharp reduction in the population of elephants, the impossibility of seasonal migrations and limited the habitat to nature reserves and national parks.
• Domesticated elephants are quite good-natured and patient with the mistreatment of negligent owners. The tendency to emotional experiences and prolonged stress can lead to a nervous breakdown, when the elephant goes berserk and destroys everything in its reach.
• Elephants are among the most intelligent mammals on the planet. Excellent memory allows them to remember the wrongs caused by people and the places of important events. Emotional animals are able to rejoice, be sad, suffer and empathize with their loved ones.

Video

The elephant is the largest land mammal on Earth. These giants evoke positive emotions in us from early childhood. Most people believe that elephants are smart and calm. And in many cultures, the elephant is a symbol of happiness, peace and home comfort.

Elephant species

Today there are three types of elephants on the planet, which belong to two genera.

African elephants are divided into two types:

• The bush elephant is an animal of huge size, with a dark color, well-developed tusks and two small processes located at the end of the trunk. Representatives of this species live along the equator on the territory of the African continent;
• the forest elephant is distinguished by its relatively small stature (up to 2.5 m) and rounded ears. This species lives in the tropical forests of Africa. These species, by the way, often interbreed and produce viable offspring.

The Indian elephant is much smaller than the African, but has a more powerful physique and disproportionately short legs. The color can be from dark gray to brown. These animals are distinguished by small quadrangular auricles and one process at the very end of the trunk. The Indian elephant is an animal common in the subtropical and tropical forests of China and India, Laos and Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Description of the elephant

Depending on the species, the growth of an elephant at the withers ranges from 2 to 4 meters. The weight of an elephant varies from 3 to 7 tons. African elephants (especially savannas) sometimes weigh up to 12 tons. The powerful body of this giant is covered with thick skin (up to 2.5 cm thick) of gray or brown color with deep wrinkles. Baby elephants are born with sparse coarse bristles, and adults have almost no vegetation.

Large with large hanging ears, which have a fairly large inner surface. At the base they are very thick, and closer to the edges - thin. Elephant's ears are the regulator of heat exchange. By fanning them, the animal provides cooling for its own body.

An elephant is an animal with a rather specific voice. The sounds that an adult makes are called boars, lowing, whispering and roaring. in nature - about 70 years. In captivity, this period can be extended by five to seven years.

Trunk

An elephant is an animal with a unique organ. The trunk reaches a length of about one and a half meters and its weight is about one hundred and fifty kilograms. This organ is formed by the nose and fused upper lip. More than 100 thousand muscles and tendons make it flexible and strong.

The ancestors of elephants, who inhabited the Earth in the distant past, lived in swamps. They had a very small proboscis, which allowed the animal to breathe underwater, while foraging. Over millions of years of evolution, elephants left the swampy areas, significantly increased in size, respectively, the elephant's trunk adapted to new conditions.

Carries heavy loads, picks juicy bananas from palm trees and puts them in his mouth, draws water from reservoirs and arranges a refreshing shower for himself during the heat, makes loud trumpeting sounds, smells.

Surprisingly, the elephant's trunk is a multifunctional tool that is quite difficult for little elephants to learn how to use, often the cubs even step on their proboscis. Elephant mothers are very patient, for several months they teach their cubs the art of using this much-needed “process”.

Legs

An amazing fact, but the legs of an elephant have two kneecaps. Such an unusual structure made this giant the only mammal that cannot jump. In the very center of the foot is a fat pad that springs up with every step. Thanks to her, it can move almost silently.

Tail

An elephant's tail is about the same length as its hind legs. At the very tip of the tail is a tuft of coarse hair. With the help of such a brush, the elephant drives away insects.

Distribution and lifestyle

African elephants have mastered almost the entire territory of Africa: Senegal and Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, the Republic of the Congo and Guinea, South Africa and Sudan. They feel great in Somalia and Zambia. The main part of the livestock lives in national reserves: in this way the governments of African countries protect these animals from poachers.

An elephant can live in territories with any landscape, but it tries to avoid desert zones and dense tropical forests, preferring savannah to them.

Indian elephants mainly live in the south and northeast of India, in China, Thailand, on the island of Sri Lanka. Animals are found in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia. Unlike their African counterparts, they prefer wooded areas, choosing dense shrubs and bamboo thickets.

Elephants live in herds, in which all individuals are related by kinship. These animals know how to greet each other, take care of their offspring in a very touching way and never leave their group.

Another amazing feature of these huge animals is that they can laugh. An elephant is an animal that, despite its size, is a good swimmer. Moreover, elephants are very fond of water procedures. On land, they move at an average speed (up to six kilometers per hour). While running for short distances, this figure increases to fifty kilometers per hour.

Eating elephants in nature

Researchers have calculated that about sixteen hours a day elephants devote to the absorption of food. During this time, they eat up to 300 kg of various vegetation. The elephant happily eats grass (including papyrus, cattail in Africa), bark and leaves of trees (for example, ficus in India), rhizomes, fruits of wild apples, bananas, marula and even coffee. Elephants and agricultural plantations do not bypass, causing them significant damage. This applies primarily to crops of sweet potato, corn and a number of other crops.

Elephants get food with the help of tusks and trunk, and chew it with molars, which change as they grind down. In zoos, the diet of elephants is much more diverse: they are fed with greens and hay, they are given various vegetables and fruits. Especially willingly they eat apples and pears, cabbage, carrots and beets, they love to feast on watermelons.

Adults drink a lot of water - up to 300 liters per day, so in natural conditions they try to be near water bodies.

From the land animals of our planet. Currently, the detachment has 2 species: African and Indian elephant. The rest died out not so long ago by biological standards: mammoths - during the ice age, and mastodons shortly before the appearance of the first people in America.

African elephant (lat. Loxodonta) somewhat larger than its Indian counterpart, reaches a height of 4 meters, weighs about 7 tons and differs from it also in more impressive ears. These elephants live in the steppe regions of the mainland and in Egypt. Both females and males of African elephants have a formidable weapon - powerful tusks.

photo: Leon Molenaar

Distribution area of ​​Indian elephants (lat Elephas maximus) - the jungles of India, Ceylon, Indochina and Burma. These animals reach three meters in height and five tons in weight. Representatives of this species lack tusks, and the ears are much smaller than those of African cousins. Indian elephants have a finger-like protrusion at the end of their trunk, which they use to pick up and carry small objects. Unlike them, African relatives have two similar fingers. Elephants of India are much more peaceful than African ones and are more amenable to training, making friendly contact with a person, so they are often used as labor. At logging sites, elephants transport felled trees, lay boards on barges, and take logs out of the water.

photo: Manoj Kumar Sahoo

Elephant is an amazing animal, which differs from all not only in size, but also in body structure and habits. On occasion, the elephant gladly arranges a shower for himself. At the same time, a powerful trunk serves as a hose and a pump for water procedures. This multifunctional organ is a modified nose fused with the upper lip of the animal. It is necessary for the elephant to breathe and smell, drink and make trumpet sounds. With a trunk containing about 100 thousand muscles, elephants capture various objects weighing up to a ton, carrying them over impressive distances.

photo: World Land Trust

Unlike ancient ancestors, modern elephants have only one pair of tusks, a third of which is hidden inside the animal's body. They grow throughout the life of the elephant, along with it, and the size indicates a certain age of the animal. Elephants have no lower incisors. Ivory is of great value as an expensive ornamental material, so unfortunate animals often become the target of human hunting. Despite the legal ban on the ivory trade, poaching has not been completely eradicated, and hundreds of steppe giants still die annually at the hands of man.

photo: Terry Carew

Usually elephants live in large herds, which number from 15 to 50 or more individuals, where everyone is related. Very rarely there are animals that have strayed from the herd and live on their own. As a rule, they are aggressive and dangerous. In the herd, friendly relations have been established between the relatives, the animals greet each other, take care of the babies, remaining faithful to the herd. Elephants are included in the four, they are able to show emotions, grieving the loss of one of their fellows, they know how to rejoice at each other and even laugh. Elephants have an excellent memory, remembering people, events and places in which they find themselves.

These giants spend most of the day on the road, in search of food, which they absorb almost continuously, 16 hours a day, eating more than 130 kg. They feed on bark, leaves, roots and fruits of plants. Elephants drink about 200 liters of liquid per day, they spend the night, if possible, near water bodies. Despite their massiveness, elephants are excellent swimmers, capable of covering tens of kilometers through the water without stopping. There are cases when elephants swam more than 60 km without rest.

Elephants have a powerful skeleton, which makes up 15% of the animal's weight. Their skin reaches 2.5 cm in thickness and is covered with sparse hairs. Elephants, like humans, live an average of about 70 years. They are the only representatives of the terrestrial fauna that cannot jump. Despite the seeming sluggishness, these giants easily move across the plain, overcoming great distances, and while running, they reach speeds of up to 30 km per hour. Elephants spend only 4 hours a day sleeping. Photo: Marsel van Oosten

Elephants have very expressive body language. If the elephant spreads his ears, it means that he is dissatisfied and is able to show aggression. In case of danger, the animal uses its tusks, trunk and powerful legs. An elephant can trample an enemy or throw him away, capturing him with his trunk. When frightened, he makes a lingering screeching sound, which is also a sign of danger, because in a panic, this giant sweeps away everything in its path.

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