We would like to present some interesting information about the world’s largest land mammal – the elephant. Actually in this article we are talking about two species of elephants which are living in Africa- savannah and forest African elephants.
Before we describe the most important problem about this endangered species, we would like to start with some facts about elephants:
Scientific name: Loxodonta africana
Weight: 3.5 to 6.5 tons
Life span: 60-70 years
Habitat: Dense forests to open plains
Gestation: About 22 months
Predators: Humans
Distribution: 37 countries in Africa
Behaviour
Elephants form very strong bonds between members of a family. The dominant female elephant is usually the head of the family. We call this kind of family structure matriarch. Male elephants leave the family when they are around 14 years old and live solitary or with other males. Elephants are enormously intelligent animals and they have memories that span many years. A study has shown that elephants can communicate over long distances. They produce a sub-sonic sound which can travel via a ground faster than sound in the air. Elephants travel long distances between their habitats.
The elephant – endangered species
Around 10 million elephants lived in Africa 200 years ago. At the turn of the 20th century there were a few million elephants. Today, their number is estimated at 450,000 – 700,000 African elephants.
The reasons for the decrease in the number of elephants are following: ivory poaching and its illegal trade, hunting for fun, agriculture and deforestation of large areas and global warming.
In our opinion the solution isn’t easy. But fortunately there are several Conservation Areas, Nationals Parks and some Sanctuaries in Africa today. It isn’t enough, we need the general and global solution which will be strictly supervised by the governments and other wildlife organisations.
We suggest these 3 options:
- Governments have to create strict laws relating to the killing and protection of elephants.
- Education and information for the public.
- Train community members in new projects.
Elephants are imposing and clever animals which deserve to be protected against us, humans!!!
Alena and Keiko, Upper-Intermediate B
http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/elephant
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0303_040303_elephants.html
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant
http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2016/08/catastrophic-decline-of-africa-elephant.html
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