The African elephant belongs to the order of Proboscidea. It is the largest terrestrial mammals. It is spread over all sub-Saharan Africa. The biggest exceeds 3 meters high and its average weight is 5 tons, with some specimens sometimes more than 6 tons. The female has smaller dimensions with an average weight of 3 tons and a height of 2 to 2.50 meters.

Defenses, present in both sexes, are actually the upper incisors which have been modified and growing constantly. Although today most defenses weigh up to 50 kilos, there were by the past much higher sizes and weight, the record being 130 kilos to more than 3 meters long.

Elephants are very eclectic in their diet ; they prefer to eat grass but may also feed on the foliage of many species of shrubs. To prevent its huge body overheating, the African elephant has two huge ears that serve as refresher to cool the blood in his veins.

The majority of matings and births take place in the rainy season ; one young is born after a gestation that lasts 22 months.

He particularly likes the savannah but we can meet him both in forest and some deserts. The herds of a dozen individuals in general, are composed only of females and young, under the command of the matriarch who is also the most impressive.

Although the famous elephants graveyard is a legend, elephants carry out some "funeral rites" that have been observed recently by scientists.