9 Amazing Elephant Facts For World Elephant Day

Elephants are the largest land mammals on the planet. They are peaceful and intelligent creatures, even worshipped by some cultures around the world.

And for World Elephant Day, Aug. 12, we are sharing 9 amazing facts about elephants, as well as some information about Oklahoma City’s own herd, including our latest Seattle transplants.

1.One of the most recognizable features of the elephant is its trunk. And even though elephants are massive creatures, their trunks are incredibly dexterous, capable of picking up even a single grain of rice!

2.There are two main species of elephants: the Asian Elephant and the African Elephant. The African elephant is the larger of the two. And both male and females of the African variety have tusks.

3.Elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth and their diets reflect that fact. Adult elephants can eat as much as 300 pounds of food a day and may even devote 16 hours of the day to eating.

4.Despite being so large elephants love to swim and they use their trunk like a snorkel when swimming in deep water.

5.Female elephants are pregnant for 22 months before giving birth to a baby! Bonus Fact: Baby Elephants are born blind.

6.Elephants use their trunks to communicate excitement, aggression and distress. The blast of sound, known as “trumpeting”, can be heard up to six miles away.

7.At least one elephant learned to “speak” with scientists in South Korea. Koshik the elephant used the tip of his trunk and his mouth to help sound out basic Korean words like ‘Hello’, ‘Sit Down’, ‘No’, ‘Lie Down’ and ‘Good’.

8.The Oklahoma City Zoo is home to seven elephants: Asha, Malee, Chandra, Achara, Rex, and fresh from the Emerald City, Bamboo and Chai. All are Asian elephants. And Malee was the first ever elephant calf born at the OKC zoo. Her sister Achara was born in late Dec. 2014.

9.Elephants are a part of a disgusting delicacy known as Black Ivory Coffee. At a cost of about $50 a cup, you can try a cup of Joe refined in the belly of an ellie. Once the elephant goes to the restroom, the beans are plucked from its dung, washed and roasted.