Elephants are incredible and majestic creatures. Despite their colossal strength, and ability to pull whole trees from the ground, in their presence they often feel impossibly gentle. It is not difficult to feel in awe of an elephant and to be, almost instantly, filled with a deep sense of respect. Our connection to these creatures are strengthened by our knowledge that they form deep family bonds and that have been known to display a range of emotions from grief and joy to anger and play.
These large mammals, in fact the largest land mammal, are characterised by their large ears, long trunks and tusks. They are the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea (of which other, now extinct species, included the mammoth). There are currently three recognised species: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (L. cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Elephant herds are matriarchal, ranging in number from 8 to 100 (depending on family size and terrain), and the largest female is the matriarch. If you join our elephant volunteer projects across Namibia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Thailand, you will get to witness their majestic nature.