African Bush Elephant

giant animals · Africa · super smart

Truly enormous. Adult male African bush elephants can stand 10 to 11 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 6.9 tons, making them the biggest land animals alive today. The largest one ever recorded was even taller, at 13 feet high.

Amazing trunk. An African bush elephant's trunk has over 40,000 muscles and ends in two finger-like bumps that let it pick up tiny objects or grab huge branches. It's like having a super-flexible arm with a built-in hand.

Cooling big ears. Their huge ears aren't just for hearing, they're also air conditioners. The elephant flaps them to help cool down its massive body by releasing heat into the air.

Curved tusks. African bush elephants have long, curved tusks made of ivory that they use for digging, stripping bark, and moving things around. Both males and females can have tusks.

Desert and savanna homes. These elephants live across sub-Saharan Africa in savannas, woodlands, and grasslands where they roam in family groups looking for food and water.