Animal Info - Madagascar. Animal Info - Madagascar. Elephants an Endangered Species at Bagheera. Throughout history, the elephant has played an important role in human economies, religion, and culture. The immense size, strength, and stature of this largest living land animal has intrigued people of many cultures for hundreds of years. In Asia, elephants have served as beasts of burden in war and peace. Some civilizations have regarded elephants as gods, and they have been symbols of royalty for some. Elephants have entertained us in circuses and festivals around the world.
For centuries, the elephant’s massive tusks have been prized for their ivory. The African elephant once roamed the entire continent of Africa, and the Asian elephant ranged from Syria to northern China and the islands of Indonesia. Demand for ivory, combined with habitat loss from human settlement, has led to a dramatic decline in elephant populations in the last few decades. Asian elephants were never as abundant as their African cousins, and today they are even more endangered than African elephants.
Description. Save the Rhino | endangered wildlife species rhinoceros black white. Tiger - Overview. Elephants - Overview. The largest land mammal on earth, the African elephant weighs up to eight tons. The elephant is distinguished by its massive body, large ears and a long trunk, which has many uses ranging from using it as a hand to pick up objects, as a horn to trumpet warnings, an arm raised in greeting to a hose for drinking water or bathing. Asian elephants differ in several ways from their African relatives. They are much smaller in size and their ears are straight at the bottom, unlike the large fan-shape ears of the African species.
Only some Asian male elephants have tusks. All African elephants, including females, have tusks. Elephants are either left or right-tusked and the one they use more is usually smaller because of wear and tear. Led by a matriarch, elephants are organized into complex social structures of females and calves, while male elephants tend to live in isolation. The two species of elephants—African and Asian—need extensive land to survive. Giant Panda - Overview. Great Apes - Overview. Take Action Today British oil company Soco International PLC plans to explore for oil inside Virunga National Park in Africa. Join us in telling Soco and government leaders that Virunga is too important to open up for oil exploration. Scottish Wildcat Association, conserving Scotland's critically endangered wild felines. Polar Bear Conservation - WWF: A Leader in Polar Bear Conservation.