The Elephant GuideJohn Williams is a world-renowned photographer, best known for his breathtaking images of African elephants. He has been to Africa a total of 13 times in order to photograph these majestic creatures, and he has published his work in prestigious papers such as National Geographic Magazine.
For years, John was obsessed with capturing the perfect photo of Satao – an elephant so famous that it had its own Wikipedia page. He pursued this goal relentlessly, until the elephant's death in 2014. But John was finally able to achieve his dream – he photographed Satao shortly before the animal's death.
Elephants have their own set of names — for the group, the babies and the sexes — and they’re some of the most-asked questions about the species. The quick version: a group of elephants is a herd, a baby is a calf, a female is a cow and a male is a bull. Here’s the full breakdown, including a few collective nouns you might not know.
The short answer: a group of elephants is a herd; a baby is a calf; a female is a cow; a male is a bull.
It’s a question that comes up more than you’d think — maybe because of their tough, wrinkled, almost reptilian-looking skin. But yes: the elephant is very much a mammal. In fact it’s one of the most iconic mammals on Earth, and it ticks every box that defines the group. Here’s why, plus how elephants are classified.
The short answer: yes — elephants are mammals (class Mammalia, order Proboscidea). They’re warm-blooded, give birth to live young, nurse them with milk, and have hair.
Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, and feeding a body that big is a full-time job — they spend up to 16–18 hours a day eating and put away 150 to 300 pounds of food. But what exactly is on the menu? Elephants are pure herbivores, and their diet shifts by species, habitat and season. Here’s a complete look at what elephants eat, how much, and how their eating shapes entire ecosystems.
The short answer: elephants are herbivores that eat grasses, leaves, bark, twigs, roots, fruit and shrubs — roughly 150–300 lb (68–136 kg) per day, washed down with 25–50 gallons of water.
Both African elephants and their Asian dito, the Asian elephant are extremely bound by history and social norms of belonging to a herd. When a baby is born, it will after a few hours take its first steps in the elephant herd.
In the herd, elephants are constantly aware of where each individual is at all times and they know which one has just had a baby and who is sick. Their an extremely loyal animal.
The elephant herd can consist of up to 100 individuals with several females and baby calves and only one older bull. The elephant herd can split into several smaller herds (or “elephant units”) if the group is too big.
Elephants are perhaps mainly known for their large size and their long trunk. But did you know that they are also incredibly good swimmers?
In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about elephants and water. We will discuss why elephants are such good swimmers, where they typically swim, elephants drinking water, and other interesting facts about these creatures!
Keep reading to find out more!
Kenya is, without question, one of the world’s greatest destinations for seeing elephants in the wild. From the iconic plains of Amboseli — where giant bulls roam with Kilimanjaro as their backdrop — to remote northern conservancies run by the Samburu people themselves, the country offers an unmatched range of elephant encounters at every budget and style of travel.
Kenya holds an estimated 36,000 African savanna elephants, making it home to one of the continent’s most significant and well-studied populations. Thanks to decades of dedicated conservation — from national parks to privately managed conservancies — elephant numbers here are slowly recovering after the ivory crisis of the 1980s and 90s. That recovery story is part of what makes a Kenya elephant safari so compelling: you’re witnessing conservation work in action.
We’ve hand-picked eight exceptional locations spread across the country — covering wild game drives, intimate orphan visits, and community-run sanctuaries that barely existed a decade ago. Whether you have a week-long safari or a single afternoon in Nairobi, there’s an elephant experience in Kenya that fits.
Most people are surprised to learn that elephants can outrun a sprinting human. Despite weighing up to 13,000 pounds and moving on legs that resemble stone pillars, an African elephant can hit 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) at top speed — fast enough to close ground on a fleeing threat in seconds. Their speed is a reminder that size and agility are not opposites, and that evolution has found ways to make even the largest land animal on Earth surprisingly quick when the situation demands it.
India is home to more wild Asian elephants than any other country on earth. Roughly 60 percent of the world’s Asian elephant population walks its forests – from the grasslands of Kaziranga in the northeast to the tea country of Kerala in the south. For anyone who wants to see wild Asian elephants in their native range, India is the best country to do it.
There are around 27,000 wild elephants in India, spread across 32 designated Elephant Reserves. The best places to see them are Kaziranga National Park (Assam), Periyar (Kerala), Nagarhole and Bandipur (Karnataka), Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu), Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand), and Wayanad (Kerala). Sightings are most reliable between October and June, outside the monsoon, and elephants should always be observed on jeep or boat safaris – not at rides or temple performances.
This guide covers the best national parks and wildlife reserves for seeing elephants in India, when to visit each one, what to expect, and how to avoid the unethical tourist traps that still exist around elephant rides, temple elephants, and overcrowded camps.
We investigate the natural world for ideas about what it takes to run a business effectively. For example, we can learn from wolves how important collaboration is, chameleons show us that being adaptable matters, and ants remind us of the value of hard work.
Likewise, we can also learn leadership lessons from elephants.
Elephants are known for their intelligence, social behavior, and strong leadership skills, which can be a valuable source of guidance for human leaders.
By observing the behavior and characteristics of elephants, we can learn important lessons on how to be effective and successful leaders.
For example, we can learn the importance of leading by example and fostering a strong team, as well as the value of effective communication, adaptability, and care for our team members.
By following these lessons by elephants leading in the animal kingdom, human leaders can improve their leadership skills and achieve success in their roles.
Elephants are also the largest living land mammal. Read on to learn the top 6 Leadership Lessons that we can derive from Elephants.
Elephant musth – a natural, yet extraordinary phenomenon that showcases nature’s raw intricacy. Musth triggers significant hormonal, physiological, and behavioral changes in adult male elephants, influencing everything from individual temperaments to social hierarchies within herds.
Understanding musth, however, extends beyond mere academic curiosity. It is crucial for managing human-elephant coexistence and driving effective conservation efforts.
As such, demystifying the complexity of musth, debunking common myths, and shedding light on this unique aspect of elephant life forms an essential part of our exploration.
Whether you’re an aspiring conservationist, wildlife enthusiast, or simply intrigued by these magnificent creatures, this exploration offers valuable insights into understanding elephants and their intriguing world.
