African elephant

Scientific name: Loxodonta africana

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Grey skin with sparse hair; large ears and prominent tusks (ivory). Bulls are noticeably larger and more robust than cows; tusks more developed in males.

Size and weight

Bulls 5,000–7,000 kg, 300–400 cm body length; cows 2,700–3,600 kg, 250–300 cm.

Habitat

African elephants inhabit savanna, woodland, and grassland ecosystems from sea level to 4,000 m elevation. They require proximity to water sources and tolerate a wide range of vegetation density.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa from savanna margins to dense woodland; concentrated in protected areas of East and Southern Africa, with smaller populations in West Africa.

Diet

Graze on grasses, browse shrubs and trees; consume bark, roots, and fruits seasonally; water-dependent, requiring 150+ litres daily.

Behaviour

Primarily diurnal with crepuscular peaks; highly social in matriarchal herds of 5–30 individuals; undertake long-distance migrations following water and forage.

Hunting tips

Track by fresh footprints (80+ cm diameter) and dung piles; locate herds at dawn/dusk near water sources. Approach upwind through thick cover, keeping low to avoid detection by acute hearing and smell. Move slowly to intercept pathways between feeding and watering grounds.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 8 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.