Elephants, the largest of all land animals, are found on two continents: Africa and Asia. The African elephant species is actually two subspecies, the forest (which is the smaller and lives in central and west Africa) and the savannah (which roams the plains and bush lands). About 420,000 African elephants live in 37 African countries. There are far fewer Asian elephants—these forest lovers number about 35,000, spread out over 12 southeast Asian countries, including India.

A male African savannah elephant may reach nearly 30 feet in length (trunk to tail) and 13 feet in height, weighing in at about 6.5 tons. The smaller Asian male stretches to an impressive 26 feet in length and nearly 10 feet in height. He can weigh as much as 5.5 tons. Both species are long lived, surviving up to 70 years in the wild.

To maintain their massive bodies, elephants must spend about 75% of their day eating, mostly feeding on grass, leaves, twigs, and bark. They disperse undigested plant seeds through their dung, helping to cultivate plants in their habitats. They'll travel miles (the lifetime range of an African elephant can be anywhere from nine to more than 1,900 miles) to look for food and water. (Incidentally, they can drink 67 gallons a day.) During a drought, they will dig for water.

Elephants do their traveling (and their playing, calf-rearing, and resting) in groups of about ten. Females and their children (both males and females reach maturity at 10–15 years) live together in a matriarchal society. Adult males (bulls) are seen near the female-calf herds, but they, too, tend to roam in groups. These male groups are smaller and not so close-knit. Peace between bulls may be disrupted when they compete to mate with a particular female.

Female elephants begin reproducing at 11 years and continue through their fifties. Gestation lasts 22 months and produces a single calf, who will nurse for as long as four years. The whole herd takes part in rearing the calf. Young elephants begin taking care of calves at about ten years of age.

The prehensile trunk is used to pick up food or other objects, to facilitate drinking, and to touch and greet other elephants. Touch appears to be very important to elephants; mothers often touch their calves.

All African elephants grow tusks, but only male Asian elephants do. They consist of dentine, cartilaginous material, and calcium salts, and they are the equivalent of incisor teeth. Elephants use their tusks (which can grow to be nine-plus feet long) for removing bark, digging for roots, and as weapons.