Elephants are the largest land animals alive today, and they are also among the most socially complex. Scientists have studied their behaviour for decades, and the findings are as impressive as the animals' size.
Key takeaways
- There are three living species: the African savanna elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant.
- Herds are led by experienced females, called matriarchs.
- Elephants communicate with a wide range of sounds, including very low-frequency rumbles.
- They are intelligent, and at least one Asian elephant has passed a mirror self-recognition test.
- Habitat loss and poaching threaten them.
Three species
African savanna elephants are the largest, with adult males often weighing around six tonnes. African forest elephants are smaller and live in the forests of central and west Africa. Asian elephants live in parts of South and Southeast Asia and have smaller ears and a rounded back. Scientists recognised the two African types as separate species based on genetic evidence.
A trunk with many uses
An elephant's trunk is a fusion of the nose and upper lip. It contains many thousands of muscle units and no bones. Elephants use it to breathe, smell, drink, grasp food, greet each other, spray water and dust and make sounds. The tip of an African elephant's trunk has two finger-like projections, and the Asian elephant has one, allowing them to pick up objects as small as a single nut.
Family life
Female elephants and their young live in herds led by a matriarch, usually the oldest or most experienced female, who guides decisions about where to find food and water. Young males typically leave the herd in their teens and live alone or in loose groups. Elephants have a long pregnancy of about 22 months, the longest of any land mammal, and calves are cared for by many relatives.
Talking at a distance
Elephants produce trumpets, roars and rumbles. Some rumbles are infrasound, too low for humans to hear, and can travel long distances through air and the ground. Researchers have found that elephants can detect vibrations through their feet and trunks. Studies have also suggested that elephants may use something like names for one another, with recorded calls that individuals respond to when addressed, though research is ongoing.
Memory and intelligence
The saying "an elephant never forgets" is an exaggeration, but elephants do show strong memory for places, such as water sources, and for individuals. Matriarchs with experience of past droughts can help their herds survive. In 2006, a study reported that an Asian elephant named Happy passed the mirror test, a sign of self-awareness seen in few species, though interpretation of the test is debated. Elephants have also been seen using tools, for example breaking branches to swat flies.
Responding to death
Elephants have been observed spending time near the bones of dead elephants, touching them gently with their trunks. Scientists are cautious about describing this as grief, but it suggests a strong interest in the remains of their own kind.
Threats and protection
Elephants have been hunted for ivory, and poaching has reduced populations in some regions. Habitat loss and conflict with farmers are also major pressures. International trade in ivory is restricted by the CITES agreement, and conservation efforts include protected areas, anti-poaching patrols and projects that help communities live alongside elephants.
Communication in detail
Elephants communicate in a rich range of ways. Low-frequency rumbles, some below the range of human hearing, can travel several kilometres through the air, and elephants also appear to detect vibrations through the ground with their feet and trunks. Researchers have documented a greeting ceremony when family groups meet again after a separation, with rumbling, trumpeting, ear flapping and touching with trunks. Touch is important, and elephants stroke, entwine trunks and lean against each other. They also use scent, with chemical signals in urine and temporal gland secretions, especially among males in a state called musth.
Testing elephant intelligence
Scientists have tested elephants with a variety of tasks. In cooperation experiments, two elephants had to pull a rope together to get food, and they learned to wait for a partner. In the mirror test, an Asian elephant touched a mark on her head that she could only see in the mirror. Elephants can follow human pointing gestures, remember the locations of distant water, and in some cases use objects, such as a box to reach food. Observers have also noted that they seem to help injured companions, though interpreting emotion in animals requires caution.
Ecosystem engineers
Elephants shape the landscapes where they live. In African savannas, they knock down trees and push through scrub, keeping grassland open for other species. They dig for water in dry riverbeds, creating waterholes used by many animals. Forest elephants eat fruit and disperse seeds over long distances, and studies suggest they help forests store more carbon by promoting large, dense-wooded trees. Their dung supports beetles and fungi. Removing elephants changes whole ecosystems, which is why conservationists call them keystone species.
Living alongside people
As human settlements expand, elephants and people increasingly meet, and conflicts over crops and water can be deadly for both. Farmers have tried several methods to reduce crop raiding. Beehive fences use the fact that elephants dislike bees, and chilli-based deterrents and strong lights can also help. Early warning systems alert villages when elephants approach, and compensation schemes help farmers who lose crops. Protecting corridors between reserves lets elephants move without crossing farmland.
Elephants in captivity
Elephants in zoos and tourism raise ethical questions. Elephants are wide-ranging and social, and critics argue that captivity often fails to meet their needs, leading to stress and health problems. Many tourism operators have stopped offering rides, and there are sanctuaries that provide space for rescued animals. Choosing sanctuaries and experiences that put the animals' welfare first, with no riding or performing, is encouraged by many welfare organisations.
Frequently asked questions
Do elephants really drink through their trunks?
They suck water into the trunk and then squirt it into their mouths. They do not breathe or drink through it in the way a straw works.
Are elephants afraid of mice?
This is a myth with no good evidence.
How long do elephants live?
Wild elephants may live 60 years or more, depending on conditions.
How much do elephants eat?
An adult can eat well over a hundred kilograms of vegetation a day, spending most of their waking hours feeding. They digest only part of what they eat, which is why their dung contains many seeds.
Why do elephants have large ears?
Their big ears help them lose heat. Blood vessels near the surface cool as the ears flap, which is important in hot climates. African elephants have larger ears than Asian elephants.
Are elephants endangered?
Yes. In 2021, the IUCN listed the African savanna elephant as endangered and the African forest elephant as critically endangered. The Asian elephant is also listed as endangered. Poaching and habitat loss are major threats.
Sources and further reading
Written by
FactNest Editorial Team
FactNest is operated by Muonix. The FactNest Editorial Team publishes general-interest explainers with AI-assisted drafting and illustrations. Contact contact@muonix.co for questions or corrections; we respond within 2 business days.
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