🐘 It's World Elephant Day! 🐘

Rachel_Scope

Elephants are such majestic creatures and are the world's largest land animal. The African Savanna (bush) elephant can grow up to 3m high and weigh up to 6,000kg!

I'm all ears!

There are 3 species of elephant: African Savanna (Bush), African Forest and Asian. Apparently, in order to tell them apart you just look at their ears. African elephants have larger ears that are shaped like the African continent, and Asian elephants ears are shaped like India! Can you tell what type of elephant is above?

Terrific trunks

Elephants use trunks to drink and they can hold 8 litres of water. They also use them as a snorkel when they're swimming!

Thick-skinned

Elephant skin can be up to 2.5cm thick, while human skin is around only 2mm. They have lots of folds and wrinkles which help retain water and keeps them cool. Ever watched an elephant throwing dust and mud all over themselves? They don't do that to be messy, it's to clean their skin and protect themselves from sunburn.

Munch, munch, munch

I like to snack, a lot, but I think elephants win this round, as they can spend up to three-quarters of their day just eating! They need 150kg of food per day so it's no wonder they spend so much time filling their bellies.

An elephant never forgets?

The saying came about as their temporal lobe, which is associated with memory, is bigger than ours. My temporal lobe must be pretty small as I'm always forgetting things!

Threat

About 90% of African elephants have been wiped out in the last century, with the ivory trade mainly to blame. There are now only around 415,000 wild elephants today. The Asian elephant population has decreased by 50% with only 50,000 left in the wild. This is because they are struggling to follow their normal migration routes to water, feeding, and breeding ground due to human settlements and farming.

Elephants are such wonderful creatures and it is heartbreaking to hear about their drastic decline.

Now over to you…

Do you know any more elephant facts?

Have you seen one up-close?

Bluebell21

A female elephant takes 22 months from conception to have a baby. Which is longer than any other animal.

I have never seen an elephant up-close.

Rosie_Scope

Elephants are such beautiful creatures.

I find it really sweet how strong their bonds are with each other. They make lifelong friends and help look after each others' children in the herd. Apparently they've been seen to mourn their dead loved ones too. I just read that some have been observed going back to places where their friends or family have passed away and just lingering for a moment to think about it 💔

rubin16

Elephants are my fav animal, they are so smart and family orientated.

Strawberry1

I love Elephants 🐘 ❤️ 💕

Jimm_Scope

I remember watching Mythbusters trying to bust the myth that elephants are afraid of mice.

So they ran an experiment where they would surprise an elephant walking with a sudden mouse in it's path, and the elephant would veer away. They concluded that the elephant must, in some way, be afraid of the mouse.

To me, it looked like the elephant just displayed understanding and empathy? It knows it is much larger than this tiny creature, and could crush it if it accidentally steps on it. Maybe I'm putting too much human reasoning into it, but the way the elephant reacted seemed less like it was afraid of the mouse itself, but afraid it would step on the mouse.

rubin16

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/898873#Comment_898873

I would like to think that myself too, I don't think elephants would want to intentially hurt anything and have a great understanding in things, prob more than we give them credit. They have shown to have great empathy and emotions and becuase they are not predators I don't think they would want to harm anything unless to defend themselves or their family.

I really wish I lived near a zoo or sanctuary as I would love to volunteer and take care of animals or especially elephants.

WhatThe

My daughter volunteered at an ethical sanctuary in Thailand. Many ellies are bought from owners to stop them being used for tourist rides which can cause permanent damage to their spines and the surrounding tissue.

She was bewitched by them and will return one day.

chiarieds

I've been interested in elephants for as long as I can remember. I think I was about 6 years old when my uncle (who was a keen amateur photographer) gave me a book called 'Ylla the elephant,' as it had beautiful black & white photography, & I already liked elephants by then (don't tell the penguins, as I definitely like them too)!

Rachel_Scope

Just catching up on the discussion!

@Bluebell21 I didn't know that, those poor Mother elephants. 9 months is more than enough for me!

That's so lovely @Rosie_Scope, such affectionate creatures.

I would love to volunteer with elephants too @rubin16. It'd be so rewarding.

What an amazing experience @WhatThe! I think it's awful when animals are used as entertainment for tourists. I'm happy that there are sanctuaries that help them 😊

@chiarieds have you seen one in real life? I love that your interest in them started so young.

Biblioklept

I really really want to feel their skin, I can't imagine the texture and really want to feel it 😅 I really like elephants, they look so majestic and I can't explain it but they seem kind

Rachel_Scope

They definitely seem kind @Biblioklept. People who get to work with them are so lucky.

Bluebell21

I was thinking of you @Rachel_Scope when mother elephants have 22 months pregnancy. Thankfully only 9 months for you.

Sandy_123

I do like elephants we used to have one at Dudley zoo years ago, they used to walk it round and wash it down

Rachel_Scope

Haha thanks @Bluebell21! Yes I'm more than happy with 9 months. I couldn't imagine being pregnant for almost 2 years. Imagine how big our bellies would get 😂

Were you able to get close to it @Sandy_123?

Sandy_123

Yes I remember standing watching them wash and brush the elephant, it wasn't behind any fences , it was bought into the middle of the crowd. They no longer have elephants now

Rachel_Scope

That sounds amazing @Sandy_123. What a shame they don't have them anymore.

WhatThe

Rachel, it's kinder to let them roam where their ancestors did and where they belong (certainly not on concrete in zoos).

We could learn so much from those matriarchs but we probably won't 😑

Rachel_Scope

Oh I completely agree @WhatThe unless they are rescued and have sufficient space to roam like in a safari park.