AFRICAN BUSH ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana)
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Current Status:
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540 - 750 cm
3,000 - 6,000 kg
Currently occur in 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Found in a wide variety of habitats, including savanna, grassy plains, miombo woodlands and forests, Sahelian scrub, swamps, bushlands and even deserts
About 160 kilograms of food a day consisting of grasses, leaves, branches and bark. Also an extraordinary amount of fluid each day, over 190 liters
Family units composed of groups of closely related females and their calves. The male elephant leaves its natal group at puberty and tends to form much more fluid alliances with other males
10 to 15 years
No distinct breeding season
About 22 months
Usually one, rarely twins
Up to 65 years in the wild, in captivity up to 50 years
Approximately 470,000 to 690,000 animals remaining in the wild
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