African Elephant

Loxodonta africana

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

The elephants at Howletts have four large paddocks to choose from with different substrates that naturally help with their foot care; sand, grass, mud and concrete and a deep pond, which they all enjoy.

To find out more about the incredible herd, don’t forget to catch one of our free elephant talks during your visit.

The African elephant is the largest and most powerful of all living land mammals. Adults can measure up to 11ft high at the shoulder and weigh in excess of 6 tonnes!

Adult African elephants can eat 150kg or more of foliage, grass, small branches and fruit in one day and also drink 135 litres of water!

In the wild, elephants live in herds of related females with their calves led by the oldest cow or ‘matriarch’. Bulls are solitary, leaving the herd at puberty and living in bachelor groups; they join the cows only to mate.