1.1 What Are Elephants?

Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They are known for their high intelligence, long trunks, large ears and strong social bonds.

What makes an elephant an elephant?

• A trunk that works like a tool. Elephants use their trunks to breathe, smell, drink, pick up food and touch one another.
• An excellent memory. Elephants remember places, routes and other elephants for many years.
• Communication you can feel. They communicate with sounds and body language, and through low-frequency vibrations that travel through the ground and are sensed through their feet.
• Strong family ties. Elephants live in close social groups and form bonds that last a lifetime.
• Feet that stay on the ground. Elephants are among the very few mammals that cannot jump.

Key point: Elephants are intelligent, social animals. Their trunks, memory and ways of communicating help them survive in the wild.