African Bush Elephant

African Bush Elephant Habitat

African Bush Elephants

Behavior

African Bush Elephant is an extremely social and gregarious animal. They are diurnal, and are very active throughout the day. These mammals do not live in one place or area, but are rather nomadic in nature. They would move around in herds, with several other members of their groups, including the baby elephants. This nature is backed by their natural instinct to search for food, as well as defence, so as to keep themselves safe from predators as also the elements of nature. Generally, their herds contain about 10 heads, however, different families might as well club together to form a larger super-herd that might even contain over 1,000 animals.

These animals have a huge trunk that are extremely strong and flexible, assisting them in handling food, as well as for collecting water for drinking and bathing. They also use the trunk extensively when it comes to feud with fellow male elephants especially during the mating season, or to fight back the enemies, or even curl the trunk to hold the attacker and throw them away at a distance, thus even killing them. They would also use their tusk for defense purposes, when attacked by wild animals such as lions, tigers, etc.

African Bush Elephants are extremely intelligent creatures with a very advanced brain and a keen vision (as opposed to the common belief that they have poor eyesight). Like the behavioral adaptations of the bush elephant, the African forest elephant, or the Asian elephant, they too use their trunks to throw dirt or mud onto their backs, thus protecting them from the sun, insect bites, as also keeping them cool during warm climates.

They are also emotional, and can even create a mental bond with other members of its community, or even humans. They can very clearly display emotions like exchanging love, lamenting the death of a relative, or showing deep attachment and care for the young ones.

African elephants communicate by different vocalizations, and changing positions and postures of the body. When threatened or angry, they would use their trunks to emit loud sounds to scare predators away.

Diet: What Do African Bush Elephants Eat

African Bush Elephants are completely herbivorous with their diet comprising mostly of leaves, fruits, branches, tender tree barks, roots, and other plant matters including varieties of grasses.

African Bush Elephant Tusks

African Bush Elephant Baby

Mating & Reproduction

They are polygynandrous in nature, and would breed throughout the year. When the females attain their estrus state, they are ready to mate with many other males. These elephants are ‘cooperative breeders’, which means, a new mother gets the cooperation and help of the other members in the group in raising the young.

A male can understand whether a female is ready to copulate is from the scent in the urine and the genital area. The courtship is done by the male, when it approaches the female, mildly stroking the latter’s trunk. If the female agrees, it would surrender to the male, bending on the hindquarters. It is then the turn of the male to mount the female, and begin mating. The act of intercourse takes about two minutes to complete.

Life Cycle

After mating, the female undergo the period of gestation for up to 2 years, giving birth to a single baby, with twins being extremely rare (litter size: 1/2). The calves, when born, are around 90 cm in height, and can weigh between 10 and 120 kg. Their average age of weaning is 4 months (i.e., from when they are able to consume solid food as well), however, the baby elephant would suckle its mother’s milk until the age of five.

The juvenile is nursed for about 2 years, however, they it will still remain under the protection and guidance of the herd members as long as it is not strong enough to support itself. This takes around 6 years, and it is at this time when the sign of the tusk will begin to show for the first time.

The females of the species reach sexual maturity after they attain the age of 10 or 11 years. However, they are at the highest point of fertility when they are between 25 and 45. As for the males, they attain it at around age 20.

African Bush Elephant Images

The African Bush Elephant

Adaptations

• The tusks of these wild creatures can grow up to 11 feet in length, aiding in activities like fighting, marking, feeding, and digging. They get the largest tusks of any other elephant species since they dwell in areas with mild temperaments, and hence, are less likely to break them.
• The ears are large with numerous blood vessels. During extreme temperatures, they would flap the ears like a fan, creating air currents around the ears, thus reducing body heat.
• When they swim under water, they can continue breathing through their extra-long trunks.
• The hair around their eyes is relatively longer than the rest of the body hair in order to prevent foreign objects from entering into the eyes.

Predators

The only predator of the African Bush Elephant is human. Poachers often enter their habitats to kill them for the high demand of ivory (tusk) in the world market. However, the young ones might be attacked by lions and crocodiles.

Conservation Status

With the quick decline in population of these mammoth creatures, the African Bush Elephants have been classified as Vulnerable (Classification: ‘VU’) by the IUCN 3.1 Red List.

African Bush Elephant Pictures

African Bush Elephant Size

Interesting Facts

• An average adult African elephant can consume more than 500 pounds of food per day, as also drink 190 liters of water daily.
• The male of the species is called a ‘bull’, the female is a ‘cow, while the baby is a ‘calf’.
• They can communicate over long distances and can use vocalizations which are not audible to humans.
• The top speed of the African Bush Elephant is about 40kph (25mph).
• That, which we call as the desert elephant or desert-adapted elephant, is not an independent elephant species, but are actually African bush elephants living in the deserts of Namib and Sahara.
• Today, around 300,000 African Bush Elephants are left in the world.

• Video

• References

  • 1. https://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/animals/mammals/african-bush-elephant.xml
    2. http://www.kidzone.ws/animal-facts/elephants/african-bush.htm
    3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_bush_elephant
    4. http://eol.org/pages/289808/details