African Forest Elephants, loxodonta africana cyclotis, are one of the largest elephants in the world. They stand 6.6 to 9.8 feet (2 to 3 meters) at the shoulders and are 12.25 to 17 feet (3.5 to 5.2 meters) from head to tail. They can weigh anywhere from 1,984 to 6,613 pounds (900 to 3,000 kilograms), with males being slightly larger than females. African forest elephants are darker than their African savannah elephant cousins and have rounder ears. Another noticeable difference is that African forest elephants have tusks that usually stick out almost straight and are downwardly pointing as opposed to the savannah elephant which has tusks that curve forward.
African forest can be found in central, southern and western Africa. Females travel through forests, grasslands and dense tropical jungles in groups called herds. These herds may contain as many as 5 to 8 individuals, and some herds will come together to form even larger ‘bond groups’. African forest elephants communicate with one another using low calls that are undetectable to human ears, but can be heard by other elephants several kilometers through a dense jungle. Males are often solitary, meaning that they will hunt and travel by themselves.
The diet of African forest elephants consists of bark, grass, leaves, fruit and other vegetation depending on the season. Fruit is preferred during the wet season, while grass and leaves will do when it is dry. They will pluck their food with their trunks and then move it into their mouths. Some fruits can only be penetrated by African forest elephants, so they provide a valuable service in the environment. They must also drink water daily, sometimes consuming up to 50 gallons per day. African forest elephants will even consume mineral salts by digging into the soil of clearings in the forest called “bais.” They have few natural predators, with only lions and hyenas attempting to take a calf or one of the sick and/or elderly.
Breeding for African forest elephants will take place any time of year. After a gestation period of 22 to 24 months, females will give birth to a single calf, although twins have been known to occur from time to time. The calves will nurse for up to 5 years even though they begin to eat solid food as early as 6 months. The calves will remain with their mothers until they are old enough to take care of themselves, at which point their tusks will begin to grow. If the calves can survive long enough, then they can live to be up to 70 years old.
African forest elephants are an endangered species. Deforestation, which results in loss of habitat and illegal hunting for their ivory tusks are their greatest threats. Not only that, since females only give birth every 4 years, repopulation is a slow process. A ban on the trade of elephant products has helped to a degree. Hopefully, more acts like this can help African forest elephants to protect them from further decline. After all, such a unique and admired creature deserves to live and prosper for many years to come.
Works Cited
“African Forest Elephant” 9 February 2011
“African Forest Elephant” 9 February 2011
“Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)” 9 February 2011
