Today’s elephants are under increasing pressure from habitat loss (due to explosive human population growth), poaching for ivory, and illegal trafficking.
Asian elephants are classified as endangered, and their population is declining. African elephants are considered near threatened, but a resurgence in elephant poaching is taking its toll.
To help raise awareness for these magnificent mammals, here are 12 things you didn’t know about elephants – and a compilation of beautiful photos (with baby elephants who will steal your heart)! Enjoy!
Elephant fact 1: There are six subspecies of elephant.
Two recognized subspecies of African elephant: The savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). Four subspecies of Asian elephant: The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrensis), Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), and Borneo pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis).
Image: flickr.com/geraint_owen/ / CC BY 2.0
About Rhishja Cota-Larson
This is an AWEsome post, thanks for sharing!
This is my favorite photo of an elephant
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24917549@N04/2670968997
You should add it to your photo gallery!
i F ING LOVE elephants, they’re A-MAZING!
they’re so big, clever. they always look so slow and thoughtful and old. i think they’re actually very intelligent. i love them.