Elephant, African
Loxodonta africana
Loxodonta africana
Vital Statistics
Height:
10 feet
Weight:
8,000 - 16,000 lbs
Diet:
Timothy hay, elephant feed, fruits and vegetables
Conservation:
Status: Vulnerable
Geographic Region
Savannahs of central and southern Africa
At The Zoo
Fabric of Africa
Did You Know?
The tusks are actually their incisor teeth, which are formed entirely of dentine (ivory) with no enamel; the rest of the teeth are molars. They grow six sets of molars throughout their lifetime. By around the age 60, the last set of molars has been worn down by their coarse food and the elephant dies of starvation. This is the most common cause of natural death.