African Savanna Elephant
Loxodonta africana
African Savanna Elephant: Largest herbivore roaming savannas and forests.
| Scientific name | Loxodonta africana |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Tembo |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Proboscidea |
| Family | Elephantidae |
| Size | Males: 4000-7000 kg, shoulder height approximately 3-4 meters; Females: 2600-3500 kg, shoulder height approximately 2.5-3 meters |
How to identify
1. Large body size, ears wide shaped like the African continent; 2. Broad head, tusks long and curved outward; 3. Gray skin with prominent wrinkles; 4. Distinct long trunk (elephant trunk); 5. Back concave
Habitat
Open woodland savanna, grasslands, shrublands, valleys and forest edges
Diet
Herbivorous, main diet includes grass, leaves, bark, fruits, and rhizomes
When it is active
Active both day and night, more active at dawn and dusk
Where it lives
Mainly distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania (Masai Mara), Botswana, South Africa, etc.
How to spot it
Observe at dawn or dusk near water sources or at grassland edges, maintain a safe distance, use binoculars or telephoto lenses for photography
Photography tips
Use telephoto lenses to capture details, pay attention to light changes, photograph herd interactions and natural behaviors, avoid disturbing the animals
Threats
Poaching (ivory trade), habitat loss and fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict
Similar species
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), African elephants have larger ears and longer tusks curved outward; Asian elephants have smaller ears and shorter tusks or females lack tusks
