Our Projects: Elephant Facts
Project Summary:
Elephant Facts from DSWF
There are two types of elephant, the African Elephant and the Asian Elephant
The African Elephant
There are two sub-species of the African elephant
- The savannah elephant - Loxodonta africana africana
- The forest elephant - Loxodonta africana cyclotis
- 500 years ago 10 million elephants roamed Africa
- Today, about 600,000 survive
- Only 5,000 are forest elephants with 5% of their habitate destroyed each year
- Elephants can live for up to 70 years
- 50% are now killed before they reach 15 years
- Bulls can measure up to 4m at the shoulder and weigh up to 6.5 tonnes
- Habitat loss, human-conflict and poaching are the main threats to elephants in Africa and Asia
