The average Africa elephant weighs about four tons (eight thousand lbs.!!) They can grow to be twelve feet in rare cases. The average female is usually about one foot shorter than the male. They have thick skin that protects them well from other animals and are very easy going.
The usual elephant herd contains 20 to 40 females (cows) of all ages. Only a nursing male would remain with the cows. The leader is usually a mature cow who can maintain an even temper.
They feed on tender roots, twigs, and leaves when they walk through trees. They sometimes eat in open meadows where tufts of grass are their diet. Sometimes they will invade farmers’ fields and eat their crops.
People have been slaughtering elephants for years. Even now when there are worldwide regulations on poaching elephants, people still do.