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Habitat:
Tropical
rainforest and savannah. Parts of Africa.
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- Diet: Leaves,
plant shoots, grasses, fruits, and flowers.
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- Enemies:
Poachers
(humans). Killed for their ivory tusks.
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- Facts:They weigh between 175 and 225
pounds at birth. Average male is about 12,000 pounds and 10.5 feet
tall at the shoulder; female is 1.5 feet shorter and weighs less.
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- Elephants go
through six sets of teeth in their lifetime. When their last set wears
down, they cannot eat anymore and die.
- African elephants
take at least 3 baths a day.
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- Elephants trunks
can be up to 7 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. Their ears can
weigh over 100 pounds and be 6 feet across. They use them to fan and
cool themselves.
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- When a family
member dies, they bury them with twigs and leaves and "cry"
for several hours.
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- They are endangered
mainly due to poachers who kill them for their tusks.
- Their tusks
can be 6 to 8 feet long and weigh as much as 180 pounds.
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- They eat up
to 500 pounds of vegetation and drink up to 6 gallons of water daily.
- African elephants
can usually only have one baby, although twins are possible.
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- Their tail
weighs about 22 pounds. They use it to keep flies off their back.
- Their lifespan
is about 60-80 years.
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