The Elephant

The elephant is known for

its long trunk, its oversized ears, and its excellent

memory. Sadly, the elephant is at risk.

The elephant has an unusually large body size.

It can grow up to 13 feet tall and weigh up to 15,000

pounds! The elephant’s trunk is one of its most unique

features. The trunk is more than just a long nose. It has a

variety of purposes. It is used for breathing, holding

objects,and gathering water.

What is the purpose of an elephant’s trunk?

• protection and breathing

• breathing, holding its young, swimming

• gathering water, breathing, holding objects

• smelling, protection, eating

On each side of the elephant’s trunk are

its tusks. These large teeth allow the

elephant to protect itself, to dig, and to

move objects. Elephants can use their tusks

to peel bark from trees.

How can an elephant use its tusks?

• To protect itself from an enemy

• To plant a seed

• To swing an animal

• To use like an oar in the water

The elephant has two gigantic ears

hanging from its head. They are used to

help control the elephant’s body

temperature. By flapping its ears, the

elephant is able to create a cooling

breeze.

Why does an elephant have such big ears?

• for protection

• to gather water

• to help the elephant's memory

• to keep cool in hot weather

Elephants live in family groups. Each group is led by an

adult female member of the group. She is known as the

matriarch. Each family group is made up of adult females

and young males and females.

What does matriarch mean in this story?

• She is a mad elephant.

• She is the slowest elephant.

• She is the tallest elephant.

• She is the leader of the family group.

The adult females are known as cows.

Young elephants are called calves.

Male elephants, or bulls, live separately

from these family groups.

What are young elephants called?

• calves

• cubs

• bulls

• cows

Elephants are only found in the wild on

two continents: Africa and Asia. They are

herbivores. They survive on a diet of

leaves and grass with plenty of water.

What are herbivores?

• meat eater

• younger elephants

• plant eater

• older elephants

Sadly, humans have caused harm to

elephants. Elephants are at risk in

Africa. Poaching for ivory is a major

threat to African elephants. Poaching is

when elephants are hunted to make

money from their tusks.

What is poaching?

• protecting elephants from becoming extinct

• cutting down the trees where elephants live

• planting crops where elephants live

• hunting elephants for their tusks to make money

Elephants are endangered in Asia.

They have lost much of their living space

to human activity. Humans cut down a

lot of trees for farming and wood. This

reduces the land available for elephants

to live on.

Why are elephants endangered in Asia?

• They cannot find water to drink.

• They have little space to live.

• They are lost.

• They do not have a family.