African Elephants

African Elephants are by far the largest land mammals.

There are 2 separate species of african elephant:
the Bush or Savannah Elephant Loxodonta africana, and the Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis.

The Pygmy Elephant (L.c. pumilio) is a subspecies of the forest elephant. However, using the term pygmy elephant is sometimes confusing, as Borneo elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis, an asian elephant subspecies) are also commonly called pygmy elephants. (See our page on elephant species for more information and resource links.)

Comparisons between Savannah and Forest Elephants

The savannah elephant is larger than the forest elephant, with an adult male standing over 12 ft (4 metres) at the shoulders and weighing up to 14,000 lbs. (6,350 kg.). The male forest elephant, in comparison, is only about 9 feet (2.8 m) tall at the shoulders and weighs just over 7,500 lbs. (about 3,400 kg.)

African Elephant in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Besides the size and weight, there are several noticeable features which make it easier to distinguish between the savannah elephant and the forest elephant:

Tusks
The tusks of the savannah elephant are longer, thicker, splayed slightly and curve forward. The forest elephant's tusks are straighter, thinner, parallel and curve downward.

Ears
The savannah elephant has massive flap-like ears, with the lower lobe ending in a point. The forest elephant's ears are smaller in proportion, with the lower lobe more circular in shape.

The elephant's skin is virtually hairless, except for a little hair on the chin, trunk and tail. Although it's skin colour is normally grey, much of the time it is the colour of the soil of its habitat.

Close-up view of Elephant's skin and trunk

African Elephant Behaviour

African Elephants are societal creatures centred around the female and her offspring.

Herds usually consist of about ten females and their young, with the "matriarch" of the herd being the oldest and also the leader of the herd.

When the herd grows too large, it will split into two or more smaller herds. These smaller herds will occasionally combine to form larger, temporary herds in areas where there is plenty of food and water.

Bull Elephant

Elephants are vociferous animals with quite a range of roars, trumpetings and snorts.

When females are ready to mate, they emit a series of infrasound signals at a frequency that is inaudible to humans, but picked up by other elephants, (especially the bulls!), at a range of about 2 miles.

Although elephants become sexually active at about 25 years, mating is often dominated by the biggest bulls who are 35 years or older.

Elephant with Calf

The female (cow) elephant usually gives birth to a single calf after a gestation of about 650 days.

The calf is not fully mobile at birth, making it very vulnerable to predators such as lion and hyena. It is the task of the females in the herd to help protect the young calves.

The young bulls remain with the herd until they are about 12 years old, then they are driven out. They usually join groups of other males. The young cows remain with the herd until they form their own groups.

African Elephant Herd

African Elephant Habitats

Savannah elephants have adapted to various habitats, from rainforest and mountain forests, through woodlands and savannah grasslands to semi-desert. Forest Elephants are usually found in small isolated groups, in heavily forested equatorial regions.

Where these two sub-species share habitats, such as the forest regions, the herds mingle and interbreeding occurs.