Habitats and Habits

HABITAT

The African elephant lives in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert in tropical forests, Savannah areas, deserts and river valleys.

HABITS

EATING HABITS

Elephants drink water by sucking it up with their trunks and spraying it into their mouths. They pick up food with their trunks, put it into their mouths and then swallow it.
Elephants eat mainly grass and leaves and they drinks lots of water.They eat in the morning, in the evening and during the rest of the day. Up to 200kg of food is needed daily.

MALE AND FEMALE DIFFERENCES

Males travel alone and the females travel in groups with the younger elephants.
The bulls are bigger than the cows.
Bull = 3.4 m (height) and 5.4 metric tonne(weight)
Cow = 2.8m (length) and 3.6 metric tonne (weight)

REPRODUCTION

Elephants are ready to mate at the age of 15 to 16, usually with a bull that is able to fight with other bulls in the herd. The mating pair will often separate for a few weeks. After 21 - 22 months one calf is born. It can follow the herd after just a few days. Cows can have 5 to 6 calves in a lifetime.

INTERESTING HABITS

African elephants like to cool off by playing in the water and mud. The mud will then dry on their skins and this protects them from the sun.They regularly flap their ears for better blood circulation and to keep them cool. Elephants sometimes take a nap during the hottest part of the day. They can do this while standing and laying down.