~Megan’s Blog~

This is a report we did at school, we had a choice of elephants or wetas most people chose elephants.

The elephant being the largest and second tallest land animal is well known for its size. This amazing animal is full grown at 25 years although it can live up to a massive 65 years.

There are two species of elephants; the African elephant, which is the largest out of the two, at  two-four meters tall and weighing 7500kgs and the Asian elephant is smaller with littler and more curved ears. Another difference about the two elephants is that only the male Asian elephants have tusks unlike the African Elephant where both males and females have tusks.

In most other areas the two species are mostly the same. All elephants have two small eyes which are protected by very long lashes. They are colour blind and they have limited vision in strong light. Their large ears are all individual, similar to the human fingerprint. Most elephants have tusks which are actually teeth that continue growing until they reach 1.5 meters, weighing 45kg each. The tusks are used for digging, fighting, feeding and lifting. The skin is grey and big wrinkles help the elephant stay cool. And its nose; more well known as a trunk. As well as breathing and smelling it can be used to pick up food and suck up liquid and sensing.

 Elephants live in family groups called herds where all the elephants help protect the young. To communicate with each other they, trumpet, bellow, cry or snort. To indicate danger they flap their huge ears against their heads, and then the herd gathers closer together. Elephants only sleep for two-four hours at a time either standing or lying. 

Elephants live in deserts, mountains or tropical forests in Africa, India and Southern Asia. They eat grasses, leaves, roots and shoots if they are in the wild. If they are in captivity they will be fed hay, oats, potatoes and even some meat.

Even though they are such amazing and beautiful animals, poachers are still after them. They want the ivory that their tusks are made of. This is very valuable and it is used to make ornaments or jewellery.  People are also cutting down their habitat to make homes or factories. This is also reducing the number of elephants in the wild.

So we should do what we can to protect these beautiful creatures as they are endangered but their species deserve to survive.