African elephant
Largest land mammal
The African elephant is the largest living land animal, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Two species exist: the savanna elephant and the smaller forest elephant.
Distinguished from Asian elephants by their larger ears, concave backs, and the fact that both sexes carry tusks.
African elephants are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
Main stem or storage
- pachydermThick-skinned hoofed mammal
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
- tusksExtended animal incisors
- earsAuditory organs, paired
thick skin · prehensile · herbivore · molars · feet · tail · wrinkled · gray
Female-headed family structure
- herdGrazing animals together
- calfJuvenile cow or leg part
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- memoryMind's retention capacity
communication · infrasound · mourning · social bonds · foraging · wallowing · trumpeting · charging
Extended animal incisors
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- tradeExchange of commodities
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
ivory ban · tuskless · ornaments · contraband · stockpile · seizure · black market · demand
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
threatened · vulnerable · protection · wildlife trade · ivory ban · sanctuary · WWF · anti-poaching
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- acaciaThorny warm-climate shrub
- baobabBulbous African tree species
- waterholeNatural animal drinking source
woodland · Serengeti · bush · dry season · rainy season · floodplain · range · territory
Extremely large in scale
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
- enormousExtremely large in scale
- toweringOf imposing height
- hulkingMassive and unwieldy
immense · gigantic · huge · tremendous · heavyweight · imposing · formidable · powerful
Guided wildlife viewing trip
- jeepLight military off-roader
- binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
- guideLeader or instruction book
- reserveSupply kept back
national park · photography · ecotourism · Big Five · sighting · tracking · wildlife watching · sundowner
trunk
Main stem or storage
- pachydermThick-skinned hoofed mammal
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
- tusksExtended animal incisors
ears · thick skin · prehensile · herbivore · molars · feet · tail · wrinkled · gray · dexterous
matriarchal
Female-headed family structure
- herdGrazing animals together
- calfJuvenile cow or leg part
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
memory · communication · infrasound · mourning · social bonds · foraging · wallowing · trumpeting · charging · bonding
tusks
Extended animal incisors
smuggling · ivory ban · tuskless · ornaments · contraband · stockpile · seizure · black market · demand · trafficking
endangered
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
CITES · threatened · vulnerable · protection · wildlife trade · ivory ban · sanctuary · WWF · anti-poaching · ranger
savanna
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- acaciaThorny warm-climate shrub
- baobabBulbous African tree species
waterhole · woodland · Serengeti · bush · dry season · rainy season · floodplain · range · territory · sub-Saharan
colossal
Extremely large in scale
hulking · immense · gigantic · huge · tremendous · heavyweight · imposing · formidable · powerful · mighty
game drive
Guided wildlife viewing trip
- jeepLight military off-roader
- binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
- guideLeader or instruction book
reserve · national park · photography · ecotourism · Big Five · sighting · tracking · wildlife watching · sundowner · bush
- largest organismsblue whale, giant sequoia, redwood, whale shark, humpback whale
- Zambian wildlifeleopard, hippo, crocodile, wild dog, zebra
- wildlifewhite-tailed deer, birds, mammals, reptiles, kangaroo
- wild animalslion, tiger, bear, wolf, deer
- African wildlifelion, hippo, zebra, lions, giraffe
- big gamebison, grizzly bear, brown bear, moose, caribou