Elephants: Earth's Largest Land Animal

Elephants are the largest land animals alive today. The African elephant can weigh up to 6,000 kilograms and reach up to 4 meters in height at the shoulder.

Elephants are known for their complex emotions. They can express joy, anger, grief, and compassion. Remarkably, they have been observed participating in communal grieving rituals.

The phrase 'an elephant never forgets' is not unfounded. Elephants have impressive long-term memory, essential for survival in the wild, aiding them in retracing migratory routes and recognizing individuals.

Elephant herds are matriarchal. A dominant female leads the group, which consists mainly of her female offspring and their young. Males leave the herd upon reaching adolescence.

Elephants communicate over long distances using infrasound, below the frequency that humans can hear. These low-frequency vibrations can travel over the ground faster than sound through the air.

Elephants are excellent swimmers and can swim for hours, using their trunks as snorkels to breathe while submerged.