| The largest land mammal on the earth,
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| | make up in size. Each molar can weigh
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| weighing up to 16,000 pounds, elephants
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| | more than five pounds. With all the food
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| have captivated observers for centuries.
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| | that is eaten, their teeth take a lot of
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| Elephants have been used for labor, war,
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| | wear and tear and they need to replace
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| entertainment and hunting. Elephants are
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| | their teeth throughout their life, up to
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| one of the most unique animals due to
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| | six times for some. Their large tusks
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| their enormous size and unusual physical
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| | that extend out in front of them are also
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| characteristics.
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| | teeth, but instead of chewing, these
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| One of the most popular elephants is
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| | incisor teeth, are used for defense,
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| Dumbo, from the Walt Disney film made in
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| | digging for water and uprooting trees.
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| the 1940's. The large ears of elephants,
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| | The ivory of these tusks has long been
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| exaggerated in this film, do not hear
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| | sought after and the primary reason
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| well, despite their size. They are
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| | elephants have been hunted.
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| instead used to help keep themselves
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| | Elephants are social animals. They live
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| cool. There are many blood vessels in the
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| | together in herds, with older females,
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| ears, that as they are flapped, easily
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| | called matriarchs, guiding the family.
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| circulate the blood and keep body
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| | Adult males generally live alone while
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| temperatures down, an ability that is
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| | younger elephants, both male and female
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| essential in their desert climates.
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| | stay with the herd. Baby elephants,
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| Elephants ears are so effective due to
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| | called calves, have a gestation period of
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| their size, ranging from two to three
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| | 18-22 months and typically nurse from
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| feet across.
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| | their mother up to five years. When a
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| One of the most distinguishing attributes
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| | calf seems bothered or upset, the herd
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| is the trunk of the elephant. The trunk
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| | will come to its aide to comfort and
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| is an elongated nose that has many
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| | caress. It is several more years after
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| purposes and functions, made up of over
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| | they stop nursing before they fully
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| 40,000 muscles, but no bones. They can
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| | mature and if they are male, move out to
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| use their trunk to suck up water and then
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| | be on their own. Their social nature is
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| spray it into their mouth to drink, wash
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| | also reflected in their awareness of
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| themselves and keep cool. They use it to
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| | death, as grieving seems to take place
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| warn of danger and communicate with other
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| | among a herd when one of their family
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| elephants, as well as to smell and touch
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| | members die.
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| each other affectionately. The trunk is
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| | Not long ago there were over five million
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| used most frequently though to eat.
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| | elephants on the earth, but there exists
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| Elephants eat an average of 16 hours a
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| | now less than a half million. Climate
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| day. Elephants use their trunk to reach
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| | changes, as well as destruction of
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| up into trees to get food and pluck
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| | habitat, and hunting have influenced the
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| grass. Because they are such large
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| | number of elephants. Elephants need a lot
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| animals and are herbivores who only eat
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| | of land because they eat so much, drink
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| grass, leaves, other vegetation that is
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| | so much and are such large creatures.
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| available, African Elephants eat a high
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| | When humans are close, the elephants do
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| quantity of food, more than 700 pounds a
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| | not have the space they need and infringe
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| day! They have to eat so much because
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| | on farm land, even eating crops. Although
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| over half of all they consume is passed
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| | elephants have been revered for centuries
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| through their systems undigested.
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| | and a symbol for faith and religion for
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| Elephants have the largest teeth of any
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| | some, they are quickly dwindling in
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| animal. Even though they eat so much
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| | numbers, and it is not known how long
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| food,they have only four molar teeth.
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| | these captivating mammals will survive.
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| What they lack in numbers though, they
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