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Bigthinkers Ltd
Derby
9 Melbourne Business Court
Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8LZ
London
26 York Street
London, W1U 6PZ
Derby
9 Melbourne Business Court
Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8LZ
London
26 York Street
London, W1U 6PZ
t: 0800 048 8633
e: enquiries@bigthinkers.co.uk
e: enquiries@bigthinkers.co.uk
TOP TEN ELEPHANT FACTS!
Elephant fact #1: For many years there were believed to be only two remaining species of elephant - the African and the Indian. However, recent DNA testing has split the African elephant species in two - African Bush and African Forest. The Forest elephant is much smaller than its Bush cousin, has a longer jaw, rounder ears and different tusks. Both types of African elephants are larger than their Asian counterparts and they have much bigger ears.
Elephant fact #2: If you thought nine months was a long time to carry a baby, pity the poor elephant. Their gestation period is an incredible 22 months - the longest pregnancy of any land animal. Furthermore, giving birth isn't always a happy experience, as baby elephants can weigh as much as 120kg (265lb). Ouch!
Elephant fact #3: An elephant's trunk is an extension of its upper lip and nose, and contains around 40,000 individual muscles. Both types of African elephants have two finger-like nodules at the end of their trunks, Asian elephants have just one. Elephants use their trunks for many things, including gathering food and social interaction - elephants that know each other will often entwine their trunks as a sign of greeting.
Elephant fact #4: In the same way that humans are left or right-handed, elephants are left or right-tusked. The dominant tusk is known as the major tusk, and is usually shorter than the other tusk due to wear and tear.
Elephant fact #5: The old saying 'an elephant never forgets' is scientific fact. Matriarchs in particular have a social memory whereby they are able to remember old faces. This skill can be vital to the survival of the herd; when the female elephants encounter other individuals they do not recognise, family members bunch together defensively to protect their young.
Elephant fact #6: Elephants are magnificent swimmers. They use all four legs to swim and are able to move swiftly, their body mass providing flotation while their trunk acts like a snorkel. They can even swim long distance; it is thought elephants once swam from Southern India to Sri Lanka where they settled.
Elephant fact #7: The life cycle of an elephant is fairly similar to that of a human. They begin mating around the age of 20 and have a life expectancy of around 70. The oldest elephant in captivity lived to the ripe old age of 86.
Elephant fact #8: Gay elephants? Yep, you heard it here. Researchers have found that male elephants will form same-sex relationships and will try to mate each other. Male elephants will also intertwine their trunks, 'kiss' and place their trunks in each others' mouths.
Elephant fact #9: In many cultures the elephant is sacred. The God Ganesh is depicted with an elephant's head in Hinduism, a white elephant is considered extremely holy in Thailand, and elephants are used in numerous festivals in Sri Lanka.
Elephant fact #10: Both African and Asian elephants are threatened by shrinking living space and poaching for the illegal ivory trade. Decreased habitat size has forced elephants to forage for food and has led to clashes with humans, resulting in up to 300 human deaths per year. There has been an international ban on ivory since 1989, the same year in which elephants were placed on the official endangered species list.
Elephant fact #1: For many years there were believed to be only two remaining species of elephant - the African and the Indian. However, recent DNA testing has split the African elephant species in two - African Bush and African Forest. The Forest elephant is much smaller than its Bush cousin, has a longer jaw, rounder ears and different tusks. Both types of African elephants are larger than their Asian counterparts and they have much bigger ears.
Elephant fact #2: If you thought nine months was a long time to carry a baby, pity the poor elephant. Their gestation period is an incredible 22 months - the longest pregnancy of any land animal. Furthermore, giving birth isn't always a happy experience, as baby elephants can weigh as much as 120kg (265lb). Ouch!
Elephant fact #3: An elephant's trunk is an extension of its upper lip and nose, and contains around 40,000 individual muscles. Both types of African elephants have two finger-like nodules at the end of their trunks, Asian elephants have just one. Elephants use their trunks for many things, including gathering food and social interaction - elephants that know each other will often entwine their trunks as a sign of greeting.
Elephant fact #4: In the same way that humans are left or right-handed, elephants are left or right-tusked. The dominant tusk is known as the major tusk, and is usually shorter than the other tusk due to wear and tear.
Elephant fact #5: The old saying 'an elephant never forgets' is scientific fact. Matriarchs in particular have a social memory whereby they are able to remember old faces. This skill can be vital to the survival of the herd; when the female elephants encounter other individuals they do not recognise, family members bunch together defensively to protect their young.
Elephant fact #6: Elephants are magnificent swimmers. They use all four legs to swim and are able to move swiftly, their body mass providing flotation while their trunk acts like a snorkel. They can even swim long distance; it is thought elephants once swam from Southern India to Sri Lanka where they settled.
Elephant fact #7: The life cycle of an elephant is fairly similar to that of a human. They begin mating around the age of 20 and have a life expectancy of around 70. The oldest elephant in captivity lived to the ripe old age of 86.
Elephant fact #8: Gay elephants? Yep, you heard it here. Researchers have found that male elephants will form same-sex relationships and will try to mate each other. Male elephants will also intertwine their trunks, 'kiss' and place their trunks in each others' mouths.
Elephant fact #9: In many cultures the elephant is sacred. The God Ganesh is depicted with an elephant's head in Hinduism, a white elephant is considered extremely holy in Thailand, and elephants are used in numerous festivals in Sri Lanka.
Elephant fact #10: Both African and Asian elephants are threatened by shrinking living space and poaching for the illegal ivory trade. Decreased habitat size has forced elephants to forage for food and has led to clashes with humans, resulting in up to 300 human deaths per year. There has been an international ban on ivory since 1989, the same year in which elephants were placed on the official endangered species list.
elephant facts sourced from uktv.com