Written by Daryll Williams

Known for their strong family bonds and intelligence, elephants have fascinated humans across time and cultures. As the largest living land mammal, a male African bush elephant typically stands more than 10 feet tall and weighs an incredible 6.6 tons. And even though poachers kill approximately 100 African elephants every day, conservation groups are working hard to save elephant populations from extinction, with many population groups flourishing across the continent.

Let’s take a look at 7 more interesting facts you didn’t know about elephants to further intrigue:

1. They favour one tusk over the other

A right-tusked elephant uses its right tusk more and will, consequently, wear it down more than the left one. This gives a pretty clear visual indication of whether an elephant is left- or right-tusked.

2. They are usually very quiet

While they are capable of loud trumpeting to express heightened emotion, most elephant communication is through touch, visual signals, and subsonic rumbles that can travel through the ground faster than sound through air. A trumpeting elephant may be excited or angry, but those looking to communicate with a potential mate or social group use more subtle forms of communication that humans can’t hear.

3. They are very loyal

While male elephants leave their herd between the ages of 12 and 15, female elephants stay in their family groups led by a matriarch. In these herds, they have a hierarchy based on age and generational knowledge of safe and verdant sources of food and water. These herds form tight social bonds that elicit strong emotions like grief and distress within members when their family members are injured or threatened. Elephants have even been observed mourning unfamiliar dead by stroking carcasses they pass in the wild.

4. They also suck their thumbs

When baby elephants want to comfort themselves, they instinctively start sucking their trunks. Trunk-sucking is also a way that a baby elephant can learn how to use their trunk (which contains between 40.000 and 50.000 muscles). Although most elephants, like human babies, grow out of sucking behaviour, some adult elephants also suck their trunks when they feel anxious.

5. They’re not very agile

Elephants are the only mammal that cannot jump. And even when they run (which they can do at up to 40 km per hour), they keep one foot on the ground at all times. Maybe that’s how you get to be the symbol of groundedness.

6. They like to tip-toe

Yes, big as they are, research shows that elephants put the most pressure on the outer toes of their front feet and the least amount of pressure on their heels as they walk.

7. They scare easy

We all have our weaknesses, but did you know that the mighty elephant’s weakness is the humble bee? Apparently, elephants are instinctively afraid of bees. Conservationists use this to their advantage by placing beehives around the land that they need to keep elephants clear of, like plantations.

Elephants certainly are one of the world’s treasures. And if you’re after an elephant-rich wildlife spotting experience, Africa is a no-brainer. Some of our favourite locations to spot these wild giants are Botswana, Namibia, Victoria Falls and South Africa. Hop on to our website, or check out our safari trips to find out how you can make your next sustainable safari a reality.