Elephants are the largest land mammals and are of the order Proboscidea and the family Elephantidae. There are three living species: the African Bush Elephant, the African Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant (also known as the Indian Elephant).

The African elephant is currently to be found in 37 countries in Africa. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kilograms. Full-grown, an elephant may reach a body weight of up to 12,000 kg. They typically live for 50 to 70 years. Elephants live in a structured social order. The females spend their entire lives in tightly knit family groups made up of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts. These groups are led by the eldest female, or matriarch. Adult males, on the other hand, live mostly solitary lives.