One of the 3 elephants on WAnimals
Mammals · Proboscidea · Elephantidae
Loxodonta africana
At very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
The largest land mammal on the planet, recognisable by its huge ears and ivory tusks. It lives in matriarchal herds with strong family bonds.
Weight
2 t – 6 t
Size
3 m – 4 m
Life expectancy
60 years
Diet
Herbivore
Feeds mainly on plants.
Activity
Irregular activity
Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.
Social structure
Herd
Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.
Estimated population
The last reliable continental count puts African elephants of both species at some 415,000 (African Elephant Status Report 2016); around three quarters of them are savannah elephants
AI-generated images: illustrations, not photographs.
Sources consulted: A-Z Animals · SDZWA Library Fact Sheet · SeaWorld/Busch Gardens · Animal Diversity Web · AnAge (genomics.senescence.info) · The Nature Conservancy · IUCN 2021 (Gobush et al.), reevaluación del elefante de sabana como En peligro: declive de al menos el 60 % en tres generaciones (50 años) · IUCN African Elephant Status Report 2016 · IUCN 2021, comunicado de reevaluación de las dos especies africanas
Best time: May to October, the dry season
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 58.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with African Savanna Elephant — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
The african savanna elephant is classified as endangered. Organisations such as Save the Elephants work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
Visit the Save the Elephants websiteIt's documented in 10 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Based on what we already know about african savanna elephant.
The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
