Elephants are the biggest living land animals. There are two types of elephant, African and Asian. Both types live in herds, and have poor eyesight, but very good senses of hearing and smell. If one animal detects danger, the whole herd is alerted. Elephants do not defend the home range over which they wander; instead they seem to know and be on friendly terms with their neighbours. Each herd is led by an old female who is followed by her young offspring and her adult daughters and their families. The elephants in a herd remain together for many years. Its members keep close to each to each other and look after and even suckle each others babies if need be. Sometimes a herd splits, and a younger female leaves with some of the others, but they remain close to the parent group and may rejoin it briefly.

Young males leave the herd when they reach puberty, at the age of about twelve years. Males may from herds, but these do not have any constant members and change from one day to the next. There is no special breeding season, but if a female is ready to mate, her group will be joined by males though they will not remain permanently. Elephants are among the largest land mammals on earth. Watch the elephants pictures of African and Asian origion.