Elephants are the biggest animals that live on land, and they are also some of the smartest! With their long trunks, floppy ears and gentle ways, elephants live in close families and take great care of their babies. Let's stomp into some amazing elephant facts!
🐘 Elephant quick facts
- Animal type
- Mammal
- Home
- Grasslands and forests of Africa and Asia
- Food
- Grass, leaves, bark, fruit and roots (they are herbivores)
- Size
- Up to about 13 feet (4 m) tall at the shoulder
- Life span
- About 60 to 70 years in the wild
25 Elephant Facts for Kids
- There are three kinds of elephants: the African savanna elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant.
- African savanna elephants are the largest land animals on Earth.
- An elephant's trunk is its nose and upper lip joined together.
- A trunk has tens of thousands of muscles, so it can pick up something as tiny as a peanut.
- Elephants use their trunks to smell, breathe, drink, grab food, hug and say hello.
- An elephant can suck up several liters of water into its trunk and then squirt it into its mouth.
- Elephants love to spray water and dust on their backs to stay cool and protect their skin from the sun.
- Tusks are really very long teeth that keep growing for the elephant's whole life.
- African elephants have big ears shaped a bit like the continent of Africa, while Asian elephants have smaller, rounder ears.
- Flapping their huge ears helps elephants cool down on hot days.
- Elephants eat for up to 16 to 18 hours a day.
- An adult elephant can eat around 150 kilograms (over 300 pounds) of food in a single day.
- Elephants live in family groups called herds, led by the oldest and wisest female, called the matriarch.
- A baby elephant is called a calf.
- A newborn elephant calf can weigh around 100 kilograms (more than 200 pounds)!
- Mother elephants are pregnant for almost two years, longer than any other mammal.
- Baby elephants sometimes suck their trunks, a little like human babies suck their thumbs.
- Elephants talk to each other with trumpets, rumbles and very low sounds that people can't even hear.
- Elephants can feel rumbling sounds through the ground with their sensitive feet.
- Elephants have amazing memories and can remember friends and places for many years.
- Elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror, which only a few animals can do.
- Elephants walk on their tiptoes, with a thick cushion of fat in each foot to soften every step.
- Elephants can't really jump, but they are good swimmers and can use their trunks like snorkels.
- An elephant's skin can be about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) thick in places, but it is still sensitive to bug bites and sunburn.
- Elephants are endangered, so people around the world work hard to protect them and their homes.
Questions kids ask about elephants
How big is an elephant?
African savanna elephants can stand about 10 to 13 feet (3 to 4 m) tall at the shoulder and weigh as much as a big truck, around 6,000 kilograms (13,000 pounds) for a large male.
What do elephants eat?
Elephants are herbivores. They eat grass, leaves, twigs, bark, roots and fruit, and they spend most of the day eating.
Why do elephants have trunks?
A trunk is a long nose and upper lip that works like a hand. Elephants use it to breathe, smell, drink, eat, lift things and greet their family.
Do elephants really never forget?
Elephants have excellent memories. They remember water holes, paths and other elephants for many years, which helps the herd survive.
