Elephant fact #1

For many years there were believed to be only two remaining species of elephant - the African and the Indian. However, recent DNA testing has split the African elephant species in two - African Bush and African Forest. The Forest elephant is much smaller than its Bush cousin, has a longer jaw, rounder ears and different tusks. Both types of African elephants are larger than their Asian counterparts and they have much bigger ears.

Elephant fact #2

If you thought nine months was a long time to carry a baby, pity the poor elephant. Their gestation period is an incredible 22 months - the longest pregnancy of any land animal. Furthermore, giving birth isn't always a happy experience, as baby elephants can weigh as much as 120kg (265lb). Ouch!

Elephant fact #3

An elephant's trunk is an extension of its upper lip and nose, and contains around 40,000 individual muscles. Both types of African elephants have two finger-like nodules at the end of their trunks, Asian elephants have just one. Elephants use their trunks for many things, including gathering food and social interaction - elephants that know each other will often entwine their trunks as a sign of greeting.

Elephant fact #4:

In the same way that humans are left or right-handed, elephants are left or right-tusked. The dominant tusk is known as the major tusk, and is usually shorter than the other tusk due to wear and tear.

Elephant fact #5

The old saying 'an elephant never forgets' is scientific fact. Matriarchs in particular have a social memory whereby they are able to remember old faces. This skill can be vital to the survival of the herd; when the female elephants encounter other individuals they do not recognise, family members bunch together defensively to protect their young.