Wilmer's Elephant Report

Elephants

There used used to be lots of species of Elephant (including the Mastodon) but now only two exist (African and Asian) and they are at risk of extinction.

Background:

In past times there was the oldest type of elephant called the Moertheres. Then came the Trilophodon with four tusks and a longer trunk. Next the platybelodon which was very unusual due to no tusks and a trunk mixed with a mouth! Mammoths were furry and had two tusks and a modern trunk. Next they split into two main Elephant species- Asian/African.

Characteristics:

African elephants have big ears for cooling while Asian elephants have smaller ears. African Elephants have bigger tusks while Asian elephants have smaller tusks.

Diet/Habitat:

Their diet is: trees and plants (like the bird of paradise). The habitat for Asian Elephants is the rainforests of Asia. African elephants lives in deserts in Africa.

Jaw dropping facts:

Female elephants are called cows, male elephants are called bulls and baby elephants are called calves. Elephants use their trunks as snorkels.

Adaptations:

Their Adaptations are: Trunks- without them the Elephant would become extinct fairly quickly. The trunk can suck water, like a vacuum, squirts it like a broken vacuum and hold the food.  African elephants have ears for cooling.

Extinction

African elephants have bigger tusks which means hunters LOVE them. One tusk will cost more than 10,000 euros so the bigger the better.  Asian elephants are safer however also endangered.

Conclusion:

As said before, Elephants are at the risk of extinction and we need to take action now or these beautiful animals will no longer exists.

By Wilmer