The savannah is the largest land animalwhose average body weight is 5-7 tons. Males are larger than females, this is expressed not only in the difference in weight, but also in the length of the tusks.
These giants are gifted with very large ears that serve elephants as peculiar fans, saving the animal from the heat. The pattern of veins on the huge ears of an elephant is also unique and unique, like fingerprints in humans. The soles of the paws of the beast have an amazing structure that allows elephants to step silently. The fact is that the soles smoothly flatten due to the weight of the elephant, thereby not making noise.
Lifestyle
Elephants do not have a specific place of residence; they roam the savannah, traveling in small groups. In the herd, usually from 8 to 13 individuals belonging to the same family. The head of the herd is the old female, she chooses the direction and decides when and what to do for the elephants: to swim, lunch or relax. After the elephant leading the group reaches the age of 50-60 years, she will transfer her power by inheritance to her eldest daughter. The male elephants, reaching puberty, leave the herd, and meet with the females only during the mating season of the latter.
These animals rarely quarrel among themselves, and even if there was a fight, then most likely it will be limited to a couple of shocks and the crossing of tusks. However, it happens that males, during the battle for the elephant, strike each other with blows incompatible with life.The life expectancy of the savannah is 65-70 years.
Interesting fact: elephants grow throughout their lives.
Breeding
Elephants do not have a specific breeding season. In dry and sultry weather, elephants do not show interest in mating games. Most often, elephants are born in the rainy season. Pregnancy lasts almost two years - 22 months. A newborn baby elephant can weigh up to 100-120 kilograms and have a height at the withers of one meter, also when it is born it has a very short proboscis and there are no tusks.
A baby elephant, weak after birth, after thirty minutes can independently follow its mother. Mom feeds him with her milk and continues to do this for two to four years, although her offspring already at the age of six months begins to sniff the grass and can completely switch to her at 2 years old. The baby will be completely dependent on the mother until 4 years old. Young elephants up to 11 years old help to raise a young calf, thereby training in advance to be mothers.
Cubs reach puberty in 10-20 years, males after reaching this age leave the herd, and females remain with their family for life. Throughout life, the elephant brings up to 9 cubs and becomes infertile at 60. Males reach a reproductive peak in 40-50 years, and before this age there is little chance that an elephant will be allowed to enter the female.
Young males from 20-25 years old often have periods of must in which they are very noticeable interest in the weaker sex. However, at this age, elephants are not allowed to reach females.
Natural enemies of the savannah
An adult elephant has virtually no enemies, since no predator can cope with such an animal. Elephants can be threatened by lions, leopards, hyenas and Nile crocodiles, which can grab the baby when the herd passes through the reservoir.
The number and causes of population decline
There are three main reasons for the decline in African savannah elephants:
- Desertification of land. Because of this savannah elephant is no longer found in the Sahara and North Africa.
- Poaching. Hunting an elephant for the sake of its tusks.
- Oppression of animals by people and the construction of residential settlements.
Thus, the population of elephants decreased significantly, and if in 1930 there were up to 10 million individuals, then in 2002 there were about 660,000. Today, savannah elephants have acquired the VU (vulnerable) conservation status.
