By Josie May 2nd, 2023
They can weigh up to 15,000 pounds (7,000 kg) and stand at a height of up to 13 feet (4 meters.)
African elephants are further classified into two subspecies: the savanna elephant and the forest elephant.
Savanna elephants, also known as bush elephants, are the largest of the two subspecies.
Although Asian Elephants are huge animals, they're much smaller than the African type.
The male Asian elephant “only” stands about 9 feet tall and weighs up to 11,000 pounds.
African elephants inhabit savannas, forests, and deserts.
Asian elephants are found in 13 countries across Asia, and prefer forested habitats.
In 1956, a group of hunters were on a safari in Angola when they came across the largest elephant ever recorded.
They called it "the Giant of Angola."
They shot the elephant and two years later, in 1959, the skin was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, where it remains today.
The largest elephant ever recorded was estimated to stand 13 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 24,000 pounds.
One of the most striking features of the Giant of Angola, also known as “Henry,” was his tusks.
His tusks were over 11 feet long and weighed around 220 pounds each.
Seeing as the Giant of Angola had a huge body, he naturally also had huge feet.
His feet measured over 3 feet in diameter and were incredibly strong.
Head to our website to uncover 7 debunked myths about elephants!