Big Five Leopard Lion
Rhinosorous Buffalo
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Habitat: Elephants
are always associated with permanent water and abundant vegetation (an exception to this
is the unique desert e
lephant from Namibia, who adapted to survive in the harsh
conditions of the area). Because elephants do not have sweat glands, water plays an
important roll in helping them cool down.
Habits: Elephants are very intelligent and highly social animals. They live in herds, made
up of the matriarch (the oldest animal in the group), her female calves and the
youngsters. The herd can comprise between 6 and 30 animals, after what they split to form
new herds, always maintaining contact with each other at water holes and feeding spots.
At 14 years of age, males leave the heard and associate with other bulls of the same age
or older.
Within the "bull area" hierarchy is well observed and understood by all bulls;
if a group of bulls come across a cow in oestrus, the animal occupying the highest rank is
the one to mate.
Males are much larger than females and their tusks are much longer and heavier.
Elephants have 6 sets of molar teeth; when the last set is lost, the animal is unable to
feed and eventually dies. Their life span is about 50 to 60 years
Diet: Elephant eat practically any vegetable matter. Leaves, grass,
reeds, roots, flowers, fruits, bark and even soil if the mineral content is high. They eat
about 250 kg of food and drink about 150 to 200 liters of water a day.
Breeding: Females are sexually mature at 12 years of age and are mated by
visiting bulls. After a gestation period of 22 months, the cow gives birth to a single
calf that weighs up to 130 kg. The calf suckles for about 3 years.