Savanna: African Elephants

African elephants are the largest land mammal in the world, weighing several tons. They are intelligent, social animals. Elephants need large amounts of food, water, and space to roam. Elephant populations declined in the late 1980s due to poaching (illegal killing) for their ivory tusks. Efforts to ban the sale of ivory products and increased law enforcement efforts have reduced much of the poaching. The competition for land for agriculture, ranching, and urban development is another issue that will affect the recovery of elephant populations.

credit: Mirian Westervelt/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service