Interesting facts about elephants

Elephants are the largest land animals that live in Southeast Asia and Africa in tropical forests and savannas. Traditionally there are two types of elephants: Asian and African. Unfortunately, due to many reasons such as poaching and habitat destruction, the population of these majestic animals is steadily decreasing.

Believe me, you still do not know very much about these beautiful, intelligent and peaceful mammals:

1. Female elephants can procreate even up to 50 years every 2-4 years. As a rule, twins have the female elephants are born rarely, most of the light appears one elephant. Females elephants longest gestation period of all mammals – 22 months.

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2. The largest elephant in the world weighed in at a record 12 thousand pounds, and in height reached four meters.

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3. Unlike most mammals, whose teeth changed to permanent only once the elephants are polyphyodont, that is, the change of teeth is going on with them throughout life. Eighty six million three hundred forty thousand seven hundred ten



4. Along with humans, monkeys, magpies and dolphins, elephants can recognize themselves in the mirror.Thirty four million four hundred sixty seven thousand nine hundred seventy one



5. Elephants can take the seismic signals using the sensory cells of the feet. The vibrations caused by impacts on the ground, pass into the middle ear of the elephant through the bones of the forelimbs. Catching seismic alarm, the elephant learns about the approach of a predator and getting in a protective stance. Four million three hundred ninety two thousand five hundred seventy five



6. Around the terrestrial world, elephants are considered the largest animals, however, compared to the whales they are more like gnomes. For comparison: a blue whale's tongue weighs as much as an adult elephant. Ninety nine million three hundred fifty eight thousand two hundred twenty seven



7. Elephants can only move forward or backward and can't run or gallop to jump. The elephant is a heavy animal so that he is unable to lift off the ground all four legs at the same time. Sixteen million two hundred fifty four thousand four hundred seventy four



8. Contrary to popular myth elephants are not afraid of mice. However, they are afraid of ants and bees. As a result, farmers from several African countries have used beehive to protect their fields from elephant raids. Seventy eight million seventy nine thousand forty four



9. The hyraxes are the closest relatives of modern elephants. These small, dense, herbivorous mammals are often mistaken for rodents. Forty nine million nine hundred fourteen thousand thirty five



10. Elephants, like humans, are capable of a very wide range of emotions. They feel a sense of loss, grief, and able to cry. Elephants remember and mourn their loved ones, even many years after their death. When he died, a man named Lawrence Anthony, author of "Whisper of the elephant", who saved the lives of many animals, a whole herd of elephants came to his house to say goodbye to his friend. Ninety four million six hundred eighty thousand eight hundred eighteen



11. Elephants emit several types of sounds, including the loud trumpet sound. So elephants show that worry, upset or show aggression. Elephants can hear each other at a distance of 10 kilometers. Forty four million three hundred eighty thousand six hundred seventy four



12. The people believed that elephants have perfectly developed mash. This statement has under itself a real basis. The fact that elephants have formed an image of a familiar spatial environment, the so-called cognitive map. The presence of good memory, elephants have also indicated their ability to track the whereabouts of members of his family group. Twenty seven million five hundred twenty nine thousand nine hundred fifty four



13. An elephant's trunk has more than 40 thousand muscles. Despite the fact that the elephant trunk is very large (it weighs about 180 pounds), the elephant is very clever with it and can capture very small things, like rice grains. Eighty eight million seven hundred seventy thousand nine hundred fifty



14. The main reason for the mass killings of elephants by poachers is their tusks. Although scientists have long proved that the tusks consist of dentine, a substance similar to bone and does not have any valuable properties. Seventy seven million five hundred thirty six thousand one hundred forty three



15. Stories about the elephants, eating the ripe fruit of the Marula tree, get drunk and begin to brawl, are pure myths. Animals don't pick up fallen to the ground overripe fruit, which contains most alcohol. Even if the elephant will take the fruit of the Marula, he'll need to eat about 1400 pieces to get drunk. Thirty one million seven hundred eighty eight thousand thirty



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