We will explain the characteristics, ecology, and habitat of forest elephants. The forest elephant was originally considered a subspecies of the African elephant, but it is increasingly being treated as a separate species. We are going to open this page to find out what characteristics the forest elephant has, so please use it as a reference.
Basic information about forest elephants
The forest elephant is an elephant classified as a member of the Elephantidae family and the genus African Elephantidae. The scientific name is Loxodonta cyclotis. It is one of the largest land animals in the world, weighing up to 2-7 tons. It is a very large animal, with a body length of 4-6 meters. A famous animal both in Japan and around the world.
| Japanese（和名） | マルミミゾウ |
| English（英名） | African forest elephant |
| scientific name(学名) | Loxodonta cyclotis |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Proboscidea、Elephantidae、Loxodonta 哺乳綱、長鼻目、ゾウ科、アフリカゾウ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | ENDANGERED |
| Height（身長） | 4 – 6m |
| Weight（体重） | 2-7t |
What will happen to the classification?
It has been revealed that the two existing elephant species, the African elephant and the Asian elephant, diverged genetically about 7.6 million years ago. It has since been revealed that African elephants and forest elephants diverged genetically at least 1.9 million years ago. Therefore, there are currently three types of elephants, and the African elephant is one of them.
| Name （名前） | academic name （学名） | body length （体長） | Weight （体重） | Habit （生息地） |
| African elephant アフリカゾウ | Loxodonta africana | 6〜7.5m | ～7.5t | South of the Sahara Desert サハラ砂漠以南 |
| Asian elephant アジアゾウ | Elephas maximus | 5〜6.4m | ～5.4t | Southeast Asia、South Asia 東南アジア、南アジア |
| African forest elephant マルミミゾウ | Loxodonta cyclotis | 4〜6m | 2.7〜6t | West Africa 西アフリカ |
About the forest elephant habitat
Forest elephants are distributed in Angola, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Central African Republic, Togo, Nigeria, Niger, South Sudan, and Liberia.
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
The most distinctive feature of the forest elephant is its auricle. The ear pinna is small and rounded, which is the difference between it and the African elephant. Forest elephants also differ from African elephants in that their incisors grow downwards. African elephants usually live in savannahs and forests, and range within an area of 3,700 square kilometers. They form herds of at least 3 – 10 individuals to protect themselves from predators.
What will your personality look like?
Forest elephants have extremely high cognitive abilities and will greet people who treat them kindly, and will attack people who treat them maliciously. Therefore, their cognitive abilities are extremely high, and can be said to be at a level that is not much different from humans.
What is the ecology of forest elephants?
Forest elephants drink 100 – 300 liters of water per day and eat large amounts of plants. The reproductive form is viviparous. Males compete over females that are in heat, and the gestation period is 22 months. They give birth to one cub at a time, and the lactation period is about two years. The lifespan is said to be 60 to 80 years.
What are the forest elephant’s natural enemies?
Forest elephants have no natural enemies. African elephants are very strong animals and can lift up to 350 kilograms. Therefore, only people with weapons can defeat them.
Is the forest elephant an endangered species?
The estimated population of forest elephants is 70,000. Unfortunately, it has been designated as an endangered species by the IUCN and is also listed in Appendix I of the Washington Convention, which places strong restrictions on international trade. Why have African elephants been designated as an endangered species? Let me explain why. It turns out that the problem is caused by us humans. For this reason, various projects and activities such as forest protection are currently underway.
Overhunting for ivory continues
Ivory is the reason why wild elephants have been overhunted in large numbers by humans. Ivory is a beautiful material and is highly sought after in the arts, crafts, and manufacturing industries, and sells for a high price. In some regions, illegal poaching and overhunting of living creatures has progressed in society without laws, and elephants are being killed one after another by humans.
Rapid progress in land development
Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa are all experiencing rapid economic development and land development. As I explained above, elephants eat large amounts of grass, so if there are no trees left in any place, it means that they will no longer be able to reproduce and survive.
Elephant Day is set
“World Elephant Day” was established on August 12, 2012 by Canadian film director Patricia Sims and a Thai conservation organization to call for the protection of elephants around the world. The purpose is to overcome the threat of extinction by collecting donations and exchanging information from friends to protect the species. We are currently asking for help to protect the declining population of elephants.
Can elephants be kept?
Can elephants be kept? It’s very difficult. First of all, all elephants are endangered species and are strictly protected. It is also wise to keep in mind that it is extremely difficult for the average person to raise them as they require a large amount of food. It is best to see them at a zoo or at a local national park.
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