facts and statistics about elephants

1. Elephants are the largest land mammals.

2. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild.

3. Elephants are very social animals who live in family groups led by matriarchs.

4. Elephant calves weigh about 200 pounds at birth and drink over four gallons of milk a day! Males leave their mothers at around 14-years-old and join bachelor groups composed of an older male and several younger bulls. 

5. Most male and female African elephants have tusks, while only some male Asian elephants have tusks. Those who don’t, sometimes have very small tusks called tushes that are barely visible. Tusks can grow up to 3 feet long and are used to defend against predators, compete against males, and dig for water and roots. 

6. Elephants are herbivores and eat over 300 different plants. Their favorite foods include grasses, roots, fruit, and bark.

7. An elephant's trunk is actually a nose with thousands of muscles that allow them to pick up water to drink or use their trunks as snorkels when in deep water. They can also use their trunks for smelling, breathing, and trumpeting!

8. Elephants have poor eyesight, but an excellent sense of smell and hearing. They can hear at low frequencies that are inaudible to humans. They also have a very keen sense of touch and will use their trunks to explore the ground in front of them while walking.

9. Elephants are very intelligent animals and can show empathy, compassion, self-awareness, and grief. 

10. Finally, elephants have excellent memories! Researchers have observed many elephants that have returned back to their natural habitat years after being rescued from poachers.

What is IFAW doing to help elephants?

IFAW works tirelessly to help all types of animals, including elephants. Explore IFAW’s work to help elephants, and learn more about these beautiful creatures at our information hub page dedicated to African bush elephants.

Team Lioness is transforming what it means to be a woman ranger protecting African elephants and other wildlife from poachers at the border of Tanzania and Kenya. Read about their pioneering work to save these animals.