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• The African elephants are the largest mammals on earth. They are native to Sub-Saharan Africa.MSN Environment: African Elephant WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature: African Elephant

• Fast Facts

  1. Scientific name: Loxodonta Africana sppWWF-World Wide Fund For Nature: African elephants
  2. Habitat: Grasslands, dessert, forestMSN Environment: African Elephant
  3. Diet: HerbivoreSeaWorld: African Elephant
  4. Weight: Up to 14,000 lbsNational Geographic: African Elephant
  5. Height: Up to 13 feet tallNational Geographic: African Elephant
  6. Lifespan: Up to 70 yearsSeaWorld: African Elephant
  7. Status: Threatened speciesNational Geographic: African Elephant
  8. Both males and females have tusksNational Geographic: African Elephant

• Subspecies

  The two subspecies of African elephants include the savannah elephant (L. a. africana) and the forest elephant (L. a. cyclotis). The savannah elephant is the larger of the two; it lives mainly in the grasslands and bush of eastern and southern Africa. The forest elephant's range includes central and western Africa.WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature: African Elephant

• Reproduction

  The African female reaches sexual maturity at about the age of 11. After a gestation period of about 22 - 24 months, she gives birth to a 250 lb. baby. The entire elephant herd helps to nurture the babies. African elephants will reproduce on average about every five years. A female usually stays with the same herd for life, while the male African elephant will leave the herd at around the age of 14.Seaworld: African Elephant Nature: Life of an Elephant

• Threatened African Elephants

  African elephants are being squeezed out of their natural habitat because of human population growth. Large areas that the elephants once used as migration paths are being used for agriculture and logging. Elephants are often shot because they raid farmer's fields and destroy crops for food. Poaching is also a problem; elephants are killed for their ivory tusks and meat.WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature: African Elephant

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Elephants | Mammals | Kenya | Asian Elephants | Mammoth

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