Tests

How many kilograms does an elephant weigh? The largest elephants in the world

Elephant is the largest land mammal on our planet. Elephants belong to the "proboscis" order. With the help of a trunk, elephants drink, take a shower and use it instead of hands. The trunk also helps to communicate with each other by making sounds. It is believed that elephants appeared 23 million years ago. Then there were no African and Asian elephants, but there were already their relatives - mammoths and stegodons. Modern elephants live in tropical forests and savannas. Scientists have listed them in the Red Book, as elephant tusks are valuable for poachers.

When wondering how much an elephant weighs, do not forget that the elephant eats 16 hours a day. During this time, he consumes half a ton of plant foods and twice less water. Therefore, one should take into account the weight of a hungry or full elephant. in question. It is also worth remembering that younger individuals eat and drink half as much.

There are several types of elephants in the world, distinguished by weight and habitat. Let's take a closer look.

How much does an African elephant weigh?

Scientists recognize two types African elephants- savannah and forest elephants. Perhaps in the near future a third species will be recognized - East African. Half a million individuals are divided as follows: one quarter is a forest elephant and three quarters is a savannah elephant.

The forest elephant is the smallest member of the family. An adult reaches up to two and a half meters in height. At the same time, its weight is 2500 in kilograms or 2.5 in tons.

The bush elephant, on the other hand, is considered the largest animal in the world. The average weight of an adult male is 5 tons. At the same time, for different representatives, the weight ranges from 4 to 7 tons. The height reaches from 2.5 to 3.5 meters. The female weighs slightly less - from 3 to 4.

Many believe that African elephants are descended from mammoths. But these proboscis families are relatives. Mammoths weighed more - from 10 to 12 tons and reached a height of 5 meters. Thus, mammoths were 2 times larger than modern elephants.

How much does an Indian elephant weigh?

The Indian or Asian elephant is the second largest land animal after the bush elephant. Despite this, the weight of the Indian elephant is also amazing, on average it weighs 5-6 tons. The weight of the female is 3 tons.

Asian elephants in wild nature are found in India, Bhutan, Cambodia, on the islands of Sri Lanka and Sumatra and some other places in Southeast Asia.

These elephants spend 20 hours a day searching for and eating plant foods. At the same time, an adult elephant eats 150 - 300 kilograms of grass, bamboo and other vegetation per day.

Indian elephants easier to tame. This species is found in circuses and zoos. Interestingly, the life expectancy of these elephants in captivity is 80 years, and in the wild - 60, maximum 70 years.

About the origin Asian elephant are still being debated. Some scientists believe that they are descended from stegodons, since they have a similar habitat. Stegodons are an extinct genus proboscis mammals. The main difference from elephants in the structure of the teeth and a stronger and more compact skeleton. But, most scientists are sure that stegodons have no descendants.

The number of Asian elephants is approaching the critical - 25 thousand individuals.

The heaviest elephant in the world

Most heavy elephant in the world seen in the nineteenth century in Angola. The weight of the elephant, seen by contemporaries in the city of Mukusso, was 12.2 tons.

Most big elephant in the world lives in the Israel Zoo. The elephant's name is Yossi and he is in his early 30s. Of the elephants living in captivity, he is recognized as the tallest - his height reaches 3.7 meters and, as the zoo staff say, he can hardly squeeze through the gate. Yossi's weight reached 6 tons. The length of the trunk is 2.5 meters, the tail is a meter. During the life of Yossi, 19 elephants were born.

famous elephants

Elephants can laugh and are even able to paint a picture with their trunks. They have excellent memory and intelligence. Some members of the family even entered world history with unique abilities.

So, the elephant Batyr, who lived in the Karaganda Zoo, amazed the audience and employees with his voice, or rather onomatopoeia. The elephant repeated the sounds he heard - the barking of dogs, the speech of people, the singing of birds. But the "talking" elephant was never recognized, as scientists proved that the sounds that he made were not speech. The elephant died at the age of 24.

Another elephant that can imitate human speech lives in a zoo in Korea. Elephant Kosik is capable of reproducing 8 words in Korean. It is not yet known whether he understands their meaning.

Received publicity sad story two brothers - the elephants Castor and Pollux, who were eaten in the zoo during the siege of Paris in the 19th century. Castor was killed first, on December 29, 1870. Pollux was shot the next day. Political figure from England, Henry Labouchere tasted the meat of these unfortunate animals. This is how he described the meal:

“Yesterday I had a piece of Pollux for lunch. Pollux and his brother Castor are two elephants that were killed. It was tough, rough and greasy food and I do not recommend English families eat elephants as long as they can get beef or mutton.”

Savannah elephant Jumbo became the first circus and zoo animal. He is the mascot of Tufts University (USA). Lived in Paris, London, America. He died in front of trainer Matthew Scott: the locomotive hit Jumbo to death. At that time, the elephant weighed 7 tons, its height was 4 meters. The circus suffered a loss of 100 thousand dollars, losing a celebrity. Jumbo's body was opened, the skeleton was sent to New York to the Museum of Natural History. Cornell University bought Jumbo's heart for $40. The tusks were used as souvenirs.

Guruvayur Keshavan is the famous elephant in the state of Kerala, India. He was presented as a gift to the Krishnaid temple, and after his death immortalized with a monument on its territory in full size. His height was 3.2 meters. Kevashan posthumously received the title "Ghajarajan", meaning King of Elephants.

The world knows the elephant Gaby, born through artificial insemination. Residents of 108 countries followed his birth via the Internet. Gaby was born in Israel in 2005. The name of the elephant will be in honor of the zoo veterinarian Gaby Eshkar, who inseminated the elephant Tamar. The elephant became pregnant after 2 years on the fourth attempt. Gabi is the firstborn of Tamar, at the time of his birth Tamar was already 20 years old. Surprisingly, the baby elephant was born healthy, weighing 70 kg. Two years later, another artificial insemination was performed in the same zoo, but neither the mother nor the cub survived.

The infamous Asian elephant Topsy from Luna Park in New York. In three years, she killed three people, for which she was executed on January 4, 1903 with the help of current. The elephant died in 10 seconds. One and a half thousand people attended the execution. 100 years later, Topsy erected a monument at the Coney Island Museum.

The same fate awaited the elephant Mary, who was publicly hanged in the United States on September 13, 1916 for killing a man. The death occurred in the circus arena. Red Eldridge was supposed to take Mary to the audience, but due to lack of experience with animals, he pierced her ear. This infuriated Mary and she trampled Red to death. Because of the murder, the elephant gained popularity.

The elephant Hanako (at the birth of Katya) went down in history as a long-liver. Born in Thailand, she was the first elephant imported into Japan after World War II. Hanako has two kills on her account. However, she was not executed, like Mary and Topsy, her paws were chained and put in a barn. Perhaps that is why she became famous as the loneliest elephant in the world. Hanako lived to be 69 years old and passed away on May 26, 2016.

But the most bloodthirsty Indian elephant is Osama bin Laden, named after the terrorist. On account of his 27 murders, hundreds of destroyed houses and destroyed fields. Elephant terrorist could not be caught long time, as he covered his tracks and could quickly hide from the hunters. In search of the elephant, the killers even sent military detachments and policemen. In December 2006, Osama bin Laden was shot point-blank.

The most famous Russian giant elephant lived in the Moscow Zoo. His name was Shango, he was 4.5 meters tall and weighed 5.5 tons. During the Great Patriotic War the animals were evacuated from the zoo, but Shango was so large that it did not fit in any car, so he was left in place. He did not allow to evacuate his girlfriend Jindau, who died during the bombing. The giant died in 1961 at the age of 50. Dozens of literary stories have been written about Shango, the most famous of which is The Elephant and the Radio. The story is included in the collection "Deniska's Stories".

Among elephants, there are left-handers and right-handers, it depends on which tusk they use more often. Therefore, tusks are always different sizes because one of them wears out faster.
Elephants live in families led by one old and experienced elephant. Males live alone.
For conception, the elephant has a couple of days a year. The rest of the time, conception is impossible.
If famine occurs, and there is not enough food for the herd, then the female elephants live alone, getting their own food on their own.
Elephant bears a child for 22 months. During the life of an elephant brings up to 9 cubs.

The elephant does not give birth alone, the other elephant helps to give birth and takes the baby elephant so that his mother does not crush him or trample him.
Elephant milk fat - reaches 11%.
An elephant's trunk has 500 muscles.
Newborn elephants do not know how to control their trunk until they are two years old.
In search of food, the elephant spends 15-20 hours a day.
During the day, an adult elephant eats up to 450 kg of plants and drinks up to 300 liters of water.
Elephants are known for their loyalty.

Elephants know how to rejoice, have fun, laugh, be sad and empathize.
If an elephant from the herd is sick, healthy relatives take care of it, bringing food and water.
Only elephants bury a dead relative. This ritual is observed in the following way: first they blow the trunk, and then they bury the body with earth, branches and grass.
Elephants can hear through their legs, picking up a signal from 50 km away from another elephant.
Elephants live an average of 70 years.
The weight of an elephant's brain is 5 kg, and the heart weighs up to 30 kg.
There are homosexuals among elephants.

Elephants are born without tusks, then milk tusks grow, and only then permanent ones.
An elephant tooth weighs 3 kg.
The penis size of an African elephant reaches 2 meters!
An elephant poops out 130 kg of excrement per day.
Elephants do not see well, but their sense of smell helps them navigate.
If an elephant finds a baby elephant that has lost its relatives, he will adopt him, will not leave him in trouble.

600 people die from elephants a year.
Elephants sleep 3 hours a day and snore.
African elephants are not trainable. You can only tame an Indian elephant.
An elephant dies when its teeth wear down to the point where it is unable to chew its food.
Elephants use their ears to cool themselves, using them as a fan.
There are veins on the ears that create an individual pattern for each elephant. It's like a human fingerprint.
When swimming, the elephant uses its trunk as a breathing tube.

The thickest layer of skin on an elephant reaches 4 centimeters.
Elephants have excellent memories. Even after many years, they can take revenge on the offender. Elephants also remember the paths of other elephants.
An elephant holds 7.5 liters of water in its trunk.
Elephants cannot jump or run. When walking fast, an elephant develops a speed of 40 km / h.
Only an elephant among animals stands on its head.
Elephants love to drink beer and even know how to prepare mash by throwing fruit into a pit, waiting for fermentation, and then drinking.
Elephants are unpredictable animals, they can attack for no reason.
September 22 is International Elephant Day.

If under water surface the largest mammal on the planet is the whale, on earth it is the elephant. Its dimensions inspire awe, and the weight is of interest to many.

There is no single correct answer, of course. Since the detachment of elephants has its own varieties, and the mass depends on the sex of the animal. But since the question is burning, then we will consider how much an elephant weighs using the example of individual individuals.

Weight of a newborn baby elephant

It is interesting to note here that the appearance of a baby elephant is preceded by a long two years. That is how much time his mother bears "crumbs". And for the process of conception, the male has only a few days for the whole year. Therefore, zookeepers are so happy with newborn cubs. However, they are cubs only for their parents, since the weight of the baby immediately after birth is even more than the average for an adult male. His mark may fluctuate from 80 to 130 kg. And this is despite the fact that at birth he lacks heavy tusks and a very short trunk is observed.

Yes, and they do not know how to manage the latter. Only after the milk tusks fall out can he be considered an adult elephant. Until then, he will be entirely dependent on representatives of his kind. As for the woman in labor, she is capable of long life for multiple births. Up to 9 little elephants. At the same time, other relatives (usually a friend) help her give birth. And another interesting fact is that elephants do not have homeless elephants. Even if someone loses their mother, they will definitely be adopted.

How much does an adult elephant weigh

And in order to find out the weight adult, several factors must be taken into account. Even such an important one as that - an elephant is full or hungry. Because in just a day largest representative land animals is able to absorb up to 400 kg of plant food. And if you add a few centners here drinking water, then the difference when weighing becomes apparent. But the main point is still the breed of animals.

There are two large groups- African and Asian varieties. In turn, the African is divided into two more - a representative of the savannas and a forest dweller. There is also talk that scientists will soon recognize the so-called East African elephant.

Now closer to the question of how much the most big elephant.

The palm here is occupied by a representative of the desert savannas. largest mammal may well weigh 7 tons with growth over three meters. The mean amplitude ranges from 4 to 6 tons. At the same time, the weight of females is somewhat less - up to 4 thousand kg. But the forest African looks like a “dwarf” against their background. Its mass barely reaches 2.5 tons with the same growth rate.

Chained to Asian elephants Special attention because there are very few left in nature. According to researchers, no more than 25 thousand individuals. This species of the family is only slightly inferior African giant, sometimes reaching 6 tons. Females weigh much less, maximum up to 3 thousand kg. Their habitat extends over a small area of southeastern Asia, in particular, India. These elephants are much easier to train than their African relatives, as can be seen from the ratio of animals in zoos.

If we delve into history, the chroniclers of the 19th century noted the appearance of a huge elephant (about 12 tons) in the Angolan city of Mucusso.

The weight of the largest elephant in the world - Yossi

By the way, in captivity, elephants live a couple of decades longer. You can even say how much specifically - about 70-80 years. And the largest of the living lives right there - in the Israeli zoo.

Now he is a well-fed thirty-year-old male in the prime of his life, since his weight is 6 tons with an increase of almost four meters! trunk Yossi(namely, that's how he was nicknamed) already reaches more than 2.5 meters. Zoo staff say that this giant has already contributed to the birth of two dozen baby elephants.

Song for children: fixies - an elephant weighs 5 tons

But a popular children's song solves the problem of the weight of elephants in a very simple way. In the so-called fixipelka, five-ton representatives of the elephant family are sung. At the same time, the authors of the musical work refer to the well-known program “What? Where? When? ”, in which small viewers can write their letters with questions. Well, on average, it probably is. Fixies are right, and Wikipedia will not let you lie.

Video "Elephant - interesting facts"

It’s worth starting with the origin of these powerful animals ground world. If there are still debates about Asian elephants, then with the African handsome man, scientists have long been clear. Its distant relative was the huge primeval mammoth. Precisely because the latter have all become extinct, the great elephant is now the largest land mammal.

AT educational video you can learn a lot about elephants interesting facts. For example, the fact that a real matriarchy reigns in the elephant family. And also the fact that by the appearance of their tusks you can find out whether the elephant is left-handed or right-handed. But the most curious is the fact that these giants are able to hear with their feet. With their feet, they produce low-frequency sounds that are audible to other individuals at great distances. It is very interesting to learn such details!

Elephants remain in the family forever and help look after all the cubs until they themselves give birth. During their life they give birth 4-5 times, almost always one baby elephant and rarely (1-2 cases out of 100) two baby elephants. Pregnancy lasts 21-23 months, longer than in whales and any other mammal. At the fourth month of pregnancy, the size of the fetus is only 4 centimeters, but it is already clear that this is an elephant. After about a month, the fetus doubles in size and the trunk, ears, and eyes can be distinguished. At 6 months, the fetus moves and reacts to the sounds of the mother. At 14 months, the weight of the fetus is 16 kilograms, and its gender is well distinguished. The remaining 8 months before childbirth are spent on weight gain and the final formation of the brain.

When the elephant gives birth, relatives help her free the baby elephant from the films and raise him to his feet. The weight of the "crumbs" is about 100 kilograms, and the height is about a meter. Not later than half an hour after giving birth, the baby elephant can follow the mother. The female elephant feeds the cub while standing and, in order to feed it, stands over a hillock or other elevation. The baby elephant climbs up there and sucks milk with his mouth. Elephants who have given birth for the first time may not do this, and, without reaching for the mother's nipples, the cub begins to cry.

Experienced elephants always come to the rescue and quickly calm the cub. Among them there is always a dairy elephant, and the baby elephant will not starve. After the birth of a baby elephant, the family stays in place for 1-2 days and waits for it to get stronger. In the event of a natural disaster or other danger, the elephant carries away the baby elephant, wrapping her trunk around him.

In the first year of life, the baby elephant does not know how to use the trunk and drinks water for quite a long time and sucks mother's milk with his mouth. For six months, the mother teaches the baby elephant how to use the trunk. Only towards the end of the first year does he begin to eat other foods. The elephant feeds the baby elephant with milk up to 2-5 years, and cares and educates up to 10-12 years. At a meeting after separation, they scream, are very excited, intertwined with their trunks. They are able to rejoice, "joking" and "smiling". These feelings cannot be compared to the emotions of people, but for elephants they are of great importance.

The birth of a baby elephant

Birth of a puppy

2

The birth of a baby elephant

3

The birth of a baby elephant

4

The birth of a baby elephant

5

The birth of a baby elephant

6

The birth of a baby elephant

7

The elephant is the largest land animal on earth. The size of the giant is amazing. Animals weigh differently, depending on the species. Concerning physical strength, here, too, no one can surpass them. Following the elephant, the places of the strongest animals are occupied by: rhinoceros, hippopotamus, buffalo and, of course, the lion. This will be the top five strongest animals on the planet. What is the approximate weight of an elephant?

Elephant species

Giants are distinguished by their habitat. The homeland of one species is Africa, the second exists in India.

On the African continent inhabited by savanna and forest elephants. The first is the largest animal on the planet, the forest is less powerful. Males are much larger than females. The size of the savanna species reaches 7.5 meters in males. Their growth in highest point body is 2.5-3.5 meters.

Indian elephants are also divided into species and subspecies. The smallest of them lives on the island of Kalimantan. On average, the body size of an Indian male reaches 6.5-7 meters. The females are significantly smaller.

How much does the largest elephant in the world weigh?

All kinds of giants are similar to each other. Savannah representative is distinguished by the most powerful structure. It is characterized by:

Average weight of individuals of this species in males - 7 tons, in females - 5 tons. Maximum Record in the weight category was recorded in the Guinness book back in 1974. The animal shot then, when weighed, showed a result of 12 with a little tons. For comparison, Indian elephants weigh much less: male - up to 5 tons, female - up to 2.7 tons.

How much does a newborn baby elephant weigh

Elephant cubs are very vulnerable immediately after birth and often fall prey to lions. It is not always possible for a giant to recapture his offspring from predators. Weight of a newborn baby elephant ranges from 80 to 140 kilograms. He has been under the care of a vigilant mother for a long time.

Only by the age of ten years of his life, the baby elephant is gaining the mass and size that make him invulnerable to predators. The final formation in these animals occurs at the age of 20.

The lifestyle of the giants

As giants feed on branches, leaves and bark of trees, then vegetation must be in the access zone. Animals also cannot go far from water. But since the herd needs new sources of food as the old ones are depleted, it has to constantly migrate. Animals walk 12 kilometers a day, and in a year they can cover a distance of 500 km.

Matriarchy reigns in the herd. The reins of government, as a rule, are taken over by an old elephant. In addition to her, the group includes her offspring already with their cubs. In total, there are 9-12 individuals in such a family. The main female decides everything: where and how much to feed, when and where to go to new way. Her power in the herd lasts up to 60 years, after which it goes to eldest daughter etc.

Males are expelled from the herd after growing up. Sometimes they wander alone, and sometimes they gather in groups. Only when one of the females is ready for mating does approach and contact with one of the males occur. Overgrown groups are separated over time, small ones, on the contrary, can unite.

Communication within the group occurs through touch and sound. More elephants take certain poses to express your mood or needs. If family members had to be separated, they greet each other very vigorously when they meet, rejoicing at each other. Fights are rare and are reduced to poking and tusk grabbing. More often, males make do with threatening gestures and clapping their ears.

Elephants (lat. Elerhantidae) - a family belonging to mammals of the Chordata type and the Proboscis order. To date, this rather numerous family includes the largest mammals in size, leading a terrestrial lifestyle. The Elephant family includes three species of modern elephants from two genera, as well as several extinct ancient genera of such mammals.

Elephant weight by species

The species African elephants (Lohodonta) are bush elephants(Lohodonta africana), Forest Elephant (Lohodonta cyclotis) and Pygmy Elephant (Lohodonta creutzburgi). Species Indian Elephants (Elerhas) represented Indian elephant(Elerhas mahimus), the Cypriot dwarf elephant (Elerhas cypriotes) and the Sicilian dwarf elephant (Elerhas falconeri). Also known forest straight-tusked elephant(Palaeolohodon antiquus) and many other species.

African elephant weight

Baby elephant weight at birth

Elephants have the longest gestation period of any currently known mammal. Its total duration is 18-21.5 months, but the fetus reaches full development by the nineteenth month, after which it only gradually grows, increasing in weight and size. The female elephant, as a rule, brings one cub, but sometimes a pair of elephants is born at once. Average weight the body of a newborn cub is 90-100 kg with a height at the shoulders of about one meter.

A newborn baby elephant has tusks of an average length of 4-5 cm. Modified teeth fall out in elephants by the age of two, in the process of replacing milk teeth by adults. Elephant calves rise to their feet in about a couple of hours after birth, after which they begin to actively suckle highly nutritious mother's milk. With the help of the trunk, the female “sprays” dust and earth on the cub, which makes it easy to dry the skin and effectively mask the smell from predatory animals. A few days after birth, the cubs are already able to follow their herd. When moving, the baby elephant is held by the trunk by the tail of its older sister or mother.

Important! Only at the age of six or seven years do young individuals begin to gradually separate from the family clan, and the final expulsion of matured animals occurs in the twelfth year of a mammal's life.

Absolutely all lactating females in the same herd are engaged in feeding elephants. The period of milk feeding lasts one and a half or two years, but elephants begin to actively eat all kinds of vegetation from the age of six months or seven months. Elephants also eat maternal feces, which helps the growing baby to get undigested nutrients and symbiotic bacteria necessary for the absorption of cellulose. Maternal care for offspring continues for several years.