Overview
Native to the savannahs and mountains of Sub-Saharan Africa, the African savannah elephant (or Loxodonta africana) is a large, thickset mammal with grey skin and a characteristic trunk used for vocalising, drinking and grasping food. Both sexes of the species have tusks, and both are known for their intelligence and strong social bonds, especially the bond between mothers and their babies. Female herds bond for life and, even if a herd splits up, the females will remember and communicate with family members they may come across later in life. As the largest living terrestrial animal, African elephant bulls grow to stand 3.04m to 3.36m tall at the shoulder, and weigh between 5,200kg and 6,900kg. Females are smaller, at 2.47m to 2.73m tall and weigh between 2,600kg to 3,500kg.
Appearance
Male
Female
Juvenile
Colourmorphs
Albino male
Albino female
Albino juvenileSize & weight
Size
Shoulder height: 2.6 to 3.2 m
Measured as Shoulder height. The person stands 1.75 m tall for scale.
Habitat requirements
Barrier grade
Grade 4 of 5
Minimum height
3 m minimum
Climbing & water
Climb proof
Not needed
Water barrier
Not allowed
Barriers at this grade
Barrier types with resistance grade 4 or higher.
Habitat needs
Minimum area
Land
502 m² + 502 m² per extra animal
Water
25 m² + 25 m² per extra animal
Shelter
56 m² per animal
Environment
Temperature
14 to 36°C
Plant coverage
0-30%
Enclosure
Habitat
Dislikes
Snow
Terrain
- Grass 20-40%
- Sand 10-40%
- Soil 20-40%
- Rock 0-20%
- Waterlogged 10-40%
Diet and enrichment
Diet
- Leaves and Branches
- Hay
Water sources
Conservation
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Least concern
Critically endangered
Wild population
320,000
320,000 in the wild. Rank 49 of 58 species with a known count, smallest first.
African savannah elephants are an Endangered species. They are threatened by poaching for the illegal ivory trade, but also due to the expansion of human life destroying their habitat. They are commonly viewed negatively by locals, mostly because they can destroy farmland and it is difficult to 'elephant proof' land with sufficient boundaries. Poached elephant carcasses are often left poisoned, so that scavenging raptors will die instead of circling over the kill as to not alert wildlife rangers to poaching activities. In addition to the obvious impact on elephant populations, many African vulture species are also directly in decline because of this. Elephants that live in National Parks are now protected from hunting, and many African countries have introduced humane ways of preventing elephants from damaging farmland. One method is to build a 'beehive fence': elephants are extremely afraid of bees and will avoid areas containing them or simply their sound. Despite conservation efforts the African savannah elephant population is in decline.
Zoopedia sketchbook
Social & reproduction
Keeper notes
Elephants are social animals, the exception being mature males who usually live alone. Females live in closely bonded family herds – including their young – and will travel and forage together. Herds have a matriarch; an older female who uses her experience to guide the group, and the group will care for each other, helping to raise babies. Elephants have even been known to grieve at the death of a group member. African Savannah elephants may travel 80 kilometres a day searching for food, water and mates. Mating in African savannah elephants peaks in the rainy season. An elephant bull will search for and approach a female herd, any interested females will vocalise towards him, and he will chase them until they allow him to mate with them. Mature bulls in musth, a period of heightened aggression and fertility in males, will be more successful in mating with a herd. After mating, the bull will separate from the herd again. An elephant’s pregnancy lasts 22 months, at which point the female will give birth to a single calf that she will take very close care of. Other female elephants will also help a mother care for her young, too. These calves will remain close to the family herd until they are around 8 years old, at which point the females will remain and the males will move away to form bachelor pods.
Group and breeding
Group
Group name
Herd
Group size
2-16 (up to 1 male, up to 15 females)
Male bachelor group
1-5
Female bachelor group
1-16
Offspring dispersal
Male offspring
Lifecycle and breeding
Life expectancy
60-86 years
Age of sexual maturity
10 years
Age of sexual sterility
60 years
Gestation or incubation
22 months
Interbirth period
108 months
Litter size
1
Mating system
Polygynous
Mating season
Aseasonal
Reproduction in captivity
Difficult
Dominance
Stable dominant female in female herd. Male dominance in bachelor pods changes depending on age/aggression.
Research
Research levels
| Level | Unlocks | Research gate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Thriving Requirement 1: Mud Bath, at least 2 | |
| Level 2 | Thriving Requirement 2: at least 3 objects or plants with the Spreading Crown tag; African Savannah Elephant Fact Sheet | |
| Level 3 | Release groups and release to the wild | |
| Level 4 | Thriving Requirement 3: Food Grade 2; Fertility Level 1 (+15% fertility) | Before this level: an Observation Network (Observation Platform) in Tanzania Reserve and this species released in Tanzania Reserve |
| Level 5 | Thriving Requirement 4: Water Surface Area | |
| Level 6 | Thriving Requirement 5: Waterfall and Metal Frame, at least 2; Fertility Level 2 (+30% fertility) |
Researched by
Vets
Researched at
Habitat or exhibit and Research Centre
Wildlife Reserve
Tanzania Reserve
Every level of this species' research, with its unlock conditions.
Release groups
Valid release groups
| Group | Type | Animals |
|---|---|---|
| Bull Group | Male group | 2 to 5 males |
| Maternal Family Group | Female group | 2 to 8 females |
| Solitary Bull | Solitary male | 1 male |
Release requirements
| Requirement type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Ecosystems Required | Flourishing Savannah |
| Ecosystems Required | Either Flourishing Wetland or Flourishing Riverine |
Release groups, reserve requirements and the roles this species fills.
Animal facts
- An African savannah elephant's tusks grow throughout its life; an adult male's can grow 7cm per year.
- In Tanzania, there is an island that has been dubbed 'Elephant Island' by locals because elephants will swim there to eat palm leaves and coconuts.
- African savannah elephants give themselves mud baths by spraying water and soil over their backs to protect them from the sun.
- Male elephants go through a periodic state called 'musth'; a time of heightened aggression and fertility due to an increase in testosterone.
- African savannah elephants are very important seed dispersers; the seeds of the plants and trees they eat are spread far and wide in their dung.
Taxonomy
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
