ELEPHANTS

Elephants are large mammals of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. Two species are traditionally recognised, the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), although some evidence suggests that African bush elephants and African forest elephants are separate species(L. africana and L. cyclotis respectively). Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan African, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct,members of the order includedeinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. Male african elephants are the largest extant terrestrial animals and can reach a height of 4 m (13 ft) and weigh 7000kg (15 000 lb).

All elephants have several distictive features, the most notable of which is a long trunk or probioscis, used for many purposes, particularly breathing, lifting water and grasping objects. Their incisors grow into tusks, which can serve as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. Elephants' large ear flap help to control their body temparature. Their pillar-like legs can carry their great weight. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs while asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs

Elephants are herbivorous and can be found in different habitats including savannahs, forests, deserts and marshes. They prefer to stay near water

WHERE WILL YOU FIND THEM

You will find the elephants at pen E22, right next to the amphitheatre