象可分为非洲象和亚洲象,两种都被列为濒危动物。
非洲象是迄今生存着的最大型陆生哺乳动物,雄性非洲象重达7500公斤。而亚洲象就要小一点,但它仍然是亚洲最大型陆生哺乳动物。象鼻是大象的生存支柱,既可以当鼻子、手、脚并可发出信号。另外还可采集高至7米的食物,用来吸水和劈开树木。亚洲象象鼻的顶端有一个“手指”,而非洲象则有两个。象牙基本上会伴随大象一生,我们可以通过象牙来判断大象的年龄。人类记录中最大的象牙重达97公斤,但是由于盗猎我们现在很难发现重量超过45公斤的象牙了。亚洲象和非洲象最基本的区别,就是非洲象无论是雌性还是雄性都有象牙,而亚洲象只有雄性拥有象牙。另一区别就是耳朵的形状和大小,非洲象的耳朵是亚洲象的两倍。当大象生气或受惊时,耳朵就向前展开以表达情绪。在炎热的天气,大象就会不停的扇动耳朵来降温。
What if you had to ride an elephant to school?An elephant is huge.You have to climb up on a platform to get on an elephant’s back.You might sit on the elephant’s neck and hold on with your legs.You might sit on a seat on the elephant’s back.People in Asia once rode elephants for transportation.They rode elephants into battle.They trained these intelligent animals to haul logs and do other work.
Elephants are the biggest land animals alive today.There are two species (kinds)of elephant,the African elephant and the Asian elephant.Both kinds of elephant have long trunks.The trunk is made of the elephant’s nose and upper lip.An elephant has two big tusks,one on each side of its mouth.The tusks are made of ivory.
Elephants are the largest land animals.Some elephants can weigh as much as a car!Male elephants live alone but female elephants live together in families.When a baby elephant is born,other females in the family help raise it.
Female elephants and their young,known as calves,live together in families.The oldest female heads the family.When threatened,females surround the calves to protect them from danger
People in many countries of Africa and Asia use elephants as work animals.In this video,elephants move trees that have been cut down for lumber.
Elephants have long been overhunted by poachers hunters who kill elephants in order to sell their ivory tusks.Laws that ban the buying and selling of ivory have reduced elephant poaching.
Why Do Elephants Have Trunks?