Download African Elephant

African Elephant
Interpretive Guide
Exhibit Talking Points: Our job as interpreters is to link what the visitors are seeing to The Zoo's
conservation education messages. Our goal is to spark curiosity, create emotional connections
and inspire visitors to take action. The best way to achieve this goal is to share thematic
information that connects to The Zoo's messaging. To help you successfully engage with visitors
at the elephant exhibit, the interpretation team has put together three thematic talking points
that are listed below.
Theme: Living things exist within complex relationships in ecosystems.
Talking point: Keystone Species
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Possible Hooks: Did you know elephants can smell water sources underground?
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Related Information:
o Keystone species are species (plant or animal) that play an important role in the
way an ecosystem functions. The removal of a keystone species from an
ecosystem causes drastic changes that can lead to the collapse of the ecosystem.
o Elephants are a keystone species; they have a tremendous impact on their
ecosystem as habitat modifiers and seed disperses; many species rely on them
for survival.
o Elephants are not the only keystone species. There are many keystone species
around the world, including in our area. Keystone species in Maryland include
bees (ex. bees pollinate plants, which provides food for other animals) and
oysters (ex. filters and cleans water, reefs provide habitat for other animals).
o It is important to protect keystone species because their survival increases the
survival of many other species living in the same ecosystem.
Call to Action: Help protect keystone species living near you. Keep our environment
healthy and clean by keeping trash out of the environment, recycling, using non-toxic
pest control, properly disposing of harmful chemicals, etc.
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Theme: Humans are part of the rich diversity of life, and have the power to protect or destroy
it.
Talking point: Elephant Ivory
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Possible Hooks: Do you know what elephant tusks are made of?
Related Information:
o Elephants use their tusks for digging, debarking trees, moving large objects, and
in dominance displays.
o Elephant tusks are made of incredibly dense bone, called ivory.
o Ivory is highly valued for it beauty and can be used to make items like
jewelry and sculptures.
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African Elephant Talking Points
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Interpretive Guide
Elephants are being killed illegally at an alarming rate for their ivory; poaching is
a major cause of their decline in the wild.
o African elephants are listed as Threatened by the IUCN Red List.
o A key factor to saving elephants is reducing the demand for the ivory trade.
Call to Action: Encourage visitors to take action to decrease the demand for the ivory
trade by supporting legislation against ivory, and educating friends and family about the
connection between elephant survival and ivory.
o 96 Elephants offers simple action steps that individuals and families can take to
support elephants. Encourage visitors to learn more about the organization and
what they can do to help. Click here and here to view 96 Elephants' action
pages.
o
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Theme: Humans are part of the rich diversity of life, and have the power to protect or destroy
it.
Talking point: Conservation at The Zoo
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Related Information:
o People have learned more about elephants and their needs in the last 20 years
than they have in centuries. AZA institutions have played a leading role in the
understanding of elephants through research.
o The AZA urges each of their institutions to contribute to elephant research. They
recommend each institution to be involved in at least one of the following
studies or disciplines: behavior, cognition, reproduction, communication,
enrichment, health and education.
o The Maryland Zoo actively collaborates in conservation and research studies,
and seeks participation in projects that fit into the Zoo’s commitment to
furthering animal knowledge.
o Our veterinary staff routinely take samples to track the general health of our
elephants. These samples can also be used in research studies.
o The Zoo is also a part of the elephant SSP, which manages the breeding of North
American elephants in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population
that is genetically diverse and demographically stable.
o The Zoo partners with and supports organizations actively working to conserve
elephants through research, legislation, and action in the field (IEF, EFA, 96
Elephants).
Call to Action:
o Encourage visitors to visit again, purchase memberships, etc. Supporting The Zoo
supports the conservation of wild species.
o Educate visitors about our conservation partners (Elephants for Africa,
International Elephant Foundation, 96 Elephants), and encourage them to learn
more and get involved.
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African Elephant Talking Points
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Interpretive Guide
Elephant Background: Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. There are two
species of elephant; African elephants and Asian elephants. The two species play similar roles
ecologically, but differ in physical characteristics and range.
African Elephant: African elephants are found in sub-Saharan Africa and live in a variety of
habitats, ranging from savannah to forest. They are larger than Asian elephants and have
significantly larger ears. Both males and females typically have tusks, and the tip of their trunk
has two finger like projections that are used for grasping.
There are two subspecies of African elephant;
the forest elephant and the savannah elephant
(pictured). Savannah elephants are the largest
elephants, and are typically found in savannah or
grassland habitats in eastern and southern
Africa. Forest elephants live in forested habitats in
western and central Africa, and have straight tusks
and smaller ears. Although they are currently listed as
a single species both by the IUCN and AZA, there is
some evidence suggesting that forest elephants and savannah elephants may in fact be two
distinct species. More research is needed to definitively answer this question, until then, we
will follow the IUCN's designation of them as subspecies. Here at The Zoo, all four of our
elephants are savannah elephants, so we will focus on them during this course. Extra links to
resources on forest elephants are provided at the end of this course. These resources are not
required reading, but available to you if you are interested in learning more about the forest
elephant subspecies.
Today, African elephants are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. In addition to pressure
from poaching, their range has become fragmented and their populations are becoming
increasingly isolated as a result.
Asian Elephant: Asian elephants also live in a variety
of habitats, similar to the African elephant. They were
once found throughout a large portion of Asia, south
of the Himalayas. Today they are considered an
Endangered Species by the IUCN Red List and are
found in isolated, fragmented populations. They are
smaller than African elephants and have significantly
smaller ears. Only the males have tusks, and the trunk
is tipped with one finger-like projection.
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
Description:
 Size:
o Height:
 Males: up to 12 ft (3.66 m)
 Females: up to 10 ft (2.75 m)
 Weight:
o Males: up to 14,000 lbs
o Females: up to 9,000 lbs
 Physical Description: African elephants are the heaviest and the second tallest land
animal on earth. They have very large ears, measuring up to 4 feet across. Their unique
nose is prehensile and very strong, and is usually about 5 feet long and weighs about
300 lbs. On the tip of the trunk, there are two projections that are used to pick up small
objects. Two of their teeth are modified into large tusks.
 Coloration: Dark grey skin with sparse black hair.
 Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger than females.
In the Wild
Habitat and Range:
 Range: Historically found south of the Sahara Desert to northern South Africa.
Populations are now fragmented through its former range. Different subspecies of the
African elephant are found in separate locations.
o Forest elephant: West and Central Africa
o Savannah elephant: Eastern and Southern Africa
 Habitat: Marsh, savannah, woodlands, and semi-desert.
o Forest elephant: Densely wooded forests and rainforests
o Savannah elephant: Savannah, grassy plains, semi desert
Diet:
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Herbivorous: Eats the leaves, roots, stems and fruit of various plants
o During the rainy season, elephants eat a lot of grasses and herbs such as papyrus
and cat tails.
o During the dry season, they eat leaves collected from thorny trees and bushes,
such as acacia.
Adaptations:
 Prehensile trunk:
o Modified nose & upper lip, has approximately 150,000 different muscles
o Can scratch, push, pull, lift, feel, smell
o Used for feeding, watering, sound production, defense and dust bathing
o Strong enough to lift things up to 600 lbs, yet dexterous enough to pick up
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
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something as small as a single blade of grass
o Excellent sense of smell - better than any breed of dog
Teeth:
o 4 primary teeth in mouth: 2 molars on the top, 2 on the bottom
o Each tooth is about the size of a brick
o Each has a flat surface to grind or chew hay and grass
o Elephants cycle through 6 sets of teeth in a lifetime
Tusks:
o Modified teeth (incisors) made of ivory
o Used for digging, chipping bark off trees and defense
o Ivory in tusks is very valuable - many elephants are killed for their ivory.
Feet:
o Highly specialized
o Heavily padded – padding functions as a shock absorber
o Can feel sounds or vibrations in the ground with their feet, especially low
frequency calls of other elephants, often from several miles away
Skin:
o Very thick in some spots, very thin in others and wrinkled
 Wrinkles provide increased surface area for dispersing heat
o Elephants have gray skin, but since they cover themselves with dirt (dust bathe),
they appear to be the color of the dirt where they live
o Elephants cool themselves and protect their skin from sun and insects by bathing
in mud.
Ears:
o Very large and contain many blood vessels
o All the blood in an elephant’s body passes through the ears roughly every 20
minutes
 As an elephant flaps its ears, blood in the ear cools off and then circulates
through the body, lowering body temperature
Lifespan:
 Female African elephants have a median expectancy of 38 years, but their lifespan can
be up to 60 years
 Male African elephants have a median life expectancy that seems to be less than that of
females but not enough data exists at this point to fully determine.
Social Structure:
 Matriarchal herds: In general, older, experienced females lead elephant families
a. Female herd members are usually related but occasionally non-related
individuals join to form families.
 Female family members often stay together for their entire lives
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
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Young bulls leave family groups as they mature. Bulls are sometimes solitary in
adulthood but at times associate in bachelor groups and are in chemosensory (scent)
and infrasonic (below range of human hearing) communication with other elephants in
their area. Adult bulls usually associate with matriarchal herds for breeding purposes
only.
Ecosystem relationships:
 Predators: Adult elephants are seldom preyed upon due to their sheer size and strength.
Herds are protective of the sick, injured and young elephants, making them difficult to
take down as well. Lions, hyenas, and crocodiles occasionally attempt to go after weak
or young elephants that are left unguarded.
 Interspecies competitors: Elephants compete with other herbivores in the African
savannah for food and water, especially during the dry season when both are in short
supply.
o Role/ Niche: Elephants are an important keystone species and can have
tremendous impact on their ecosystem.
 Elephants can completely change the landscape of a habitat by feeding,
uprooting or stripping bark from trees, trampling the ground through
their movements and spread seeds over great distances in their dung.
They can also dig holes in riverbeds looking for water in the dry season,
and in doing so; they provide water to many other animals. Many other
animals and plants are adapted to living in the conditions that elephants
create.
Reproduction:
 Breeding season: No specific mating season. Elephants are more likely to be successful
in mating attempts in the rainy season when food and water is more abundant.
 Behavior:
o African elephants are polygynous
o Males search for reproductive females by scent, and usually only the oldest,
strongest males get to mate with the females in a herd.
o Herds are usually comprised of related females, and they participate in
cooperative rearing of the calves when born.
 Gestation: longest gestation of any animal – about 21-23 months on average
 Number of offspring: Usually a single calf per birth, but twins are possible
 Maturation:
o Calves are born precocial; they are able to move around and follow their mother
shortly after birth and weigh 150-300 lbs.
o Calves are weaned at about 4-6 years of age.
o Become reproductively mature at around 10-12 years of age, but most males do
not get the opportunity to mate until they are much older.
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
Activity:
 African elephants can be active at any time, day or night.
Other “Fun Facts”:
 African elephants exist in two subspecies; the forest elephant and savannah elephant.
o Preliminary research suggests that the African elephant subspecies may actually
be separate species. More extensive research is required to support the
preliminary findings.
 African elephant trunks are typically 6-6.5 feet long.
 Elephants can hold up to 3 gallons of water in their trunk.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable.
 CITES: Listed under appendix I, which bans the trade of any part of the animal.
 Threats:
o Poaching: Despite an international ban on the ivory trade passed in 1989, African
elephants are still heavily poached to this day for the black market ivory trade
o Habitat loss: Much of the African elephant’s original habitat has been lost to
desertification, subsidence farming, and ranching.
 African elephants once ranged freely from south of the Sahara Desert to
northern South Africa. Today, they are mostly confined to parks and
reserves
 Their habitat is now very fragmented, which will cause genetic problems
from a lack of diversity in the breeding population.
 Conservation efforts:
o There are many different elephant reserves and protected areas in East Africa
which help protect elephants from poaching.
o The trade of Ivory has been banned internationally, but the demand is still high.
Many local governments are now banning the trade of pre-1989 Ivory in an
effort to reduce the demand.
o Elephant populations are declining in some areas, while locally overpopulated in
others. One strategy to reconnect elephants’ natural migratory routes links
protected areas together by creating habitat corridors, allowing elephant
populations to mix and potentially decrease human/elephant conflict.
o Elephant conservation is extremely complex and must take into account both
human and animal needs. Creative solutions to human/elephant conflicts must
involve the local people and benefit them as well as elephants.
 Negative elephant/human interactions include crop loss, human
fatalities, and damage to houses and other constructions.
 Positive interactions include ecotourism, especially when the local
community benefits from the tourist revenues. Seeing elephants in their
natural environment may create inspirational experiences that foster
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
positive attitudes towards elephants.
At the Zoo
Here at The Zoo, four savannah elephants are exhibited in The African Journey. Their diet is
mostly made up of hay, elephant grain and produce. At The Zoo, adult males eat up to 200 lbs
of food a day, and the females eat as much as 150 lbs.
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Felix (female):
 History is not well known to us and we may never know
 Born 1983
 Wild caught at a young age
 Weight approximately 7,100 pounds and is about 7 ½ feet at the shoulder
 Arrived at MZ in December 2007 from Riddle’s, an independently managed nonprofit
elephant facility near Greenbrier, Arkansas; before that, Felix was privately owned.
 Born without tusks; this is unusual for an African elephant but it is known to occur
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Samson (male):
 Male, born at MZ on March 19, 2008
 Weighed 290 lbs at birth; 42 inches tall at the shoulder – now approximately 5,800 lbs
 Mother is Felix; father is one of the males at Riddle’s
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Anna (female):
 Born ~ 1975, probably in South Africa
 Wild caught at a young age, possibly orphaned by poachers or in a culling
 Arrived at MZ in 1983 from a small zoo in New Jersey
 Weighs approx. 8000 lb, is about 9 ft tall at the shoulder
 Taller, flatter back
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Tuffy (male):
 History is not well known to us and we may never know
 Born 1983
 Wild caught at a young age
 Weighs approximately 12,000 pounds and is about 10 feet at the shoulder
 Arrived at MZ in December 2007 from Riddle’s, an independently managed nonprofit
elephant facility near Greenbrier, Arkansas; before that, Tuffy was privately owned.
 Tuffy’s tusks were removed when he was younger; we do not know the circumstances
What We Can Do
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Do not purchase any ivory products. Even though some ivory is legal to own, the use and
trade of these objects further increases the demand for black market ivory, which is
poached from elephants.
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
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Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy and resources.
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat, such as the
96 Elephants organization, the Elephants for Africa organization and The International
Elephant Foundation.
o 96 Elephants: An extensive campaign focusing on ending the illegal poaching of
elephants and curbing the illegal ivory trade spearheaded by Wildlife
Conservation Society.
o Elephants for Africa: A small charity that is committed to protecting the
endangered African elephant. EFA conducts research to understand the
ecological and social requirements of African elephants, and puts these into the
context of human-wildlife conflict. They currently work in Botswana and South
Africa, with local and international researchers, to deliver scientific data to local
decision makers and they also run education programs that focus on developing
the conservation leaders of the future. Dr. Kate Evans, founder of EFA, has
maintained a long partnership with the Elephant Managers Association and The
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore’s elephant program and receives support through
both funding and from the sharing of information and collaborating on research
projects to better understand the threats to African elephants in the range
countries.
o The International Elephant Foundation: The mission of the IEF is to support and
operate elephant conservation and education programs both in managed
facilities and in the wild, with an emphasis on management, protection and
scientific research. The organization is recognized by, among others, the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Morris Animal Foundation and the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a premier conservation
organization. Since 1999, IEF has provided support to over 80 elephant
conservation projects worldwide and over $3 million in direct financial
assistance.
Additional Resources and References:
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The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore:
o http://www.marylandzoo.org/animals-conservation/mammals/african-elephant/
o http://www.marylandzoo.org/support-the-zoo/volunteer/volunteer-resources/ongrounds-exhibit-interpreters/ - “African Elephant Information” (2012 zone document)
Animal Diversity Web: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Loxodonta_africana/
Arkive: http://www.arkive.org/african-elephant/loxodonta-africana/
IUCN Red List: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12392/0
World Wildlife Fund:
o http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/forest-elephant
o http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/savanna-elephant
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Elephant Background Information
The Maryland Zoo