The African Bush Elephant: The Largest Land Animal on Earth

There are three extant elephant species: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.

[{"selector":"#anim-d39c291f-db35-47f5-9904-df24bacbb25b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e3e97ab-c8ce-40ef-afb8-18de4e7a5735","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 145.84427%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba496021-4430-461b-8c4e-026abbd91a8e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

Bulls of the African elephant species reach a shoulder height of up to 3.96 meters and a body mass of 10.4 tonnes.

[{"selector":"#anim-03a23e90-9d29-4b37-8e98-5a4d171e30dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa8dc6df-524c-4bd3-8e7b-e9af0c5b0931","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-576098c9-7244-4573-8011-42a1d575d7bd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

It has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2021.

[{"selector":"#anim-04690934-ea14-43ac-9223-d06badd52edf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31723f76-8a07-4912-811f-bef2edde18fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 217.53468%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa07732e-07f8-4506-88ac-d4d5a7fb66e0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

Its primary threat is habitat destruction, while poaching for meat and ivory also endangers some populations.

[{"selector":"#anim-d55942c9-6853-40c1-ac94-7edd37d1f40d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64932fdd-333f-4f6c-982c-9de84fc73797","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f7708d9-f7d3-46a7-a3ad-fe0a46d47da8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

It is a social mammal that travels in herds composed of cows and their offspring.

[{"selector":"#anim-447cfab4-7f7a-475f-8bca-ac638f19cca1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a438501-c811-4fce-90b6-a6aca2f367f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.88419%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13bae2b2-57c2-4131-8bd9-0a7be5391d69 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

Adult bulls typically live alone or in small bachelor groups.

[{"selector":"#anim-8533a6a3-d145-4005-9e0a-486e42da269c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8ebecb8-1408-449c-8cfa-c9b0bb4c4613","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 192.53466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-549264dd-c492-4549-b7e7-f16260e91308 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

It is a herbivore that feeds on grasses, creepers, herbs, leaves, and bark.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b28b92a-db86-4fc1-ae7b-d10f9a67cb0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85076546-8367-4744-98d6-50ded34db369","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecdbc62b-86ac-4277-9181-c2171394e8bf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

Females are pregnant for 22 months, the longest gestation period of any mammal, and the menstrual cycle lasts three to four months.

[{"selector":"#anim-42e16ec4-2773-4c3a-a321-081942401010","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89ad9276-cad5-4109-a292-d3f88a7de828","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-619bba80-2fea-4e6d-aa9f-c74e6154678a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

The African bush elephant is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and Angola.

[{"selector":"#anim-a23353da-b5aa-4ce4-a90b-ef9d6b6cdb69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-121c92ea-4ef4-41fd-b9de-ba5b6bedee30","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 147.41910%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c85af1e0-64ee-4c3b-b1c7-de39c92cda3a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva

The African bush elephant has historically been recorded in Ethiopia up to an elevation of 2,500 m.

[{"selector":"#anim-a018473f-e3a5-49c9-a711-4ddbd43fc914","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e66fc496-c447-4cd0-a649-c2a25d82dfbb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 174.97074%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99c6ae1d-8c93-432f-88a0-7c8605261082 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-7.105427357601002e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] source - canva