African Bush Elephant - Loxodonta africana

One of two species of Elephants found in Africa, the other being the African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis. 

The largest of all land animals of our current age and can weigh more than 10 tons.

Their large tusks are enormous teeth fixed to the upper jaw. Thier long trunk is a prehensile nose and lip and is though to have around 60,000 muscles. It has a host of different uses, including: Smelling, feeding, drinking (it doesnt use it like a straw though) dust bathing, trumpeting, attacking and defending. 

The Bush Elephant is listed as ‘Endangered’, where the Forest Elephant is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Redlist. 

The largest threat to these iconic animals comes in the form of poaching, predominantly for their tusks which is moved east to be carved into perceived ‘special’ ivory trinkets. Although trade in ivory has been banned, there is still a very largescale black market operation in place which is as fierce and well-organised as ever. They have also lost a large portion of their range due to habitat being taken over by man and also suffer from a number of pathogens.