African elephants are the largest land mammals on earth, with the ability to live in a wide range of natural environments from sea level to 5,000 meters above sea level.
They can be found in forests, open grasslands, thorn bushes, and semi-arid jungles. There are only two genera and two species of elephants on earth, namely the Asian elephant and the African elephant.
African elephants are slightly larger than Asian elephants, and can be distinguished by their large ears. The elephant's ears can radiate heat and keep the body cool, which is crucial in the high temperatures of the African continent. Both species have long noses and extremely hard ivory, but the elephant's appearance is more similar than different.
The biggest difference between the two species is their living habits. African elephants tend to stand up when they sleep, while Asian elephants tend to sleep on their backs. Because Asian elephants consume a lot of physical energy when standing, the quality of their sleep is greatly reduced.
The average lifespan of African elephants is 60-70 years old. Elephant herds are led by an old female elephant, and usually consist of a dozen elephants. Elephant herds that are related by blood are closely related and sometimes gather together to form large herds of more than 200 elephants, but this is only temporary.
Due to their ivory, African elephants have been hunted in large numbers, resulting in a rapid decline in their population. They are now considered endangered animals.
World Elephant Day was established on August 12th to draw attention to the plight of elephants. Global climate change, intensified human activities, and poaching have seriously threatened the survival of elephants.
A recent discovery has brought a strange phenomenon to light. Biologists have discovered that many wild African elephants no longer have tusks. This situation has been observed since about the 1970s, and is now referred to as "the tusklessness of the Kenyan elephant" due to its first observation in elephant herds in Kenya's national parks.
It is estimated that around 30 percent of Kenya's elephants are currently toothless, and in some areas, the proportion is as high as 90 percent.
This phenomenon is due to the long-standing problem of poaching on the African continent, where a large number of wild elephants have been hunted down, particularly those with large tusks.
Since tusk size is genetic, the next generation of elephants bred tend to have smaller or no tusks at all. This condition has become more and more common over time.
This situation not only poses a threat to the survival of elephants, but also affects the balance of the entire ecosystem. Elephants are crucial to the ecological balance of forests and grasslands, as they help to control the growth of trees and vegetation, and promote the survival of other wildlife.
Therefore, protecting the living environment of wild elephants and taking measures to prevent poaching are crucial to maintaining ecological balance and protecting the survival of wild animals.
This is the significance of World Elephant Day, calling on people all over the world to pay attention to and protect these precious biological resources. It is only through collective effort that we can help preserve the beauty and diversity of our natural world.
