Utah's Hogle Zoo
African Elephant
Zuri & Christie
Life Span
35-45 years
Conservation Status
Threatened
Wild Diet
Herbivorous
Body Size
12,000 pounds
8-11 feet
Native Habitat
Savanna or forest areas.
Zoo Diet
Hay, grain, 50 pounds of vegetables, fruits and bread daily
More About Elephants
Elephants are the world’s largest living land mammals.
They have large ears shaped more or less like the continent of Africa. These ears wave away insects and have many blood vessels that help disperse heat.
Elephant trunks can be up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 300 lbs. They’re boneless, with more than 40,000 muscles and tendons. Two finger-like projections are at the end to help grasp small objects. Elephants use their trunks to eat, drink, bathe, feel, and lift heavy objects. They can hold up to 1 1/2 gallons of water at a time. Their trunk also provides them with an excellent sense of smell.
Elephant molars may weigh 9 lbs each and measure about 1 foot long. Only 4 of these are present at a time, one in each side of the upper and lower jaws. As these are being worn down, new molars gradually push old ones forward and out.
Both sexes of the African elephant species have visible tusks.
Tusks grow about 4 inches each year, but wear and breakage keeps them worn down. Tusks can reach lengths of 6-8’ but are usually in the range of 2-3’ long and can weigh up to 300 lbs. Elephants use them to dig for food, to lift and carry objects, and to fight.
Fun Facts!
Elephants have small eyes with long lashes and poor eyesight.
Elephants have strong, round legs, heavy bodies, and round feet about 18 inches in diameter. Because of their stature, they are unable to jump; however, they can run up to 25 mph for short distances.
Although it’s difficult to know the current population of African elephants in the wild, it’s thought that fewer than 500,000 animals remain today (down from three to five million in the 1930s and 1940s).
It’s predicted that as human populations continue to grow, habitat loss will become a major threat to elephants’ survival.
With your help, AZA Zoos and other conservation organizations are working together to help this amazing species.
35,000 African elephants were killed for their ivory last year – that’s 96 a day. This unprecedented poaching crisis demands a global movement. Utah’s Hogle Zoo is joining the 96 Elephants campaign to stop the killing, stop the trafficking, and stop the demand for ivory.
You can join the 96 Elephants Coalition and help save elephants too.
Join the coalition to save elephants here.
