Natural Bridge Zoo - AFRICAN ELEPHANT RIDE

AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana)

Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa from semidesert to forest at different altitudes

Height: Up to 13 feet at shoulders for mature bull, 9 feet for cow.

Weight: Up to 6 tons for mature bull, 4 tons for mature cows.

Longevity: 45 to 50 years in wild. They can live up to 60 to 70 years under proper domestic conditions.

Gestation: 22 to 24 months

Diet: Herbivorous - leaves, grasses, bark and fruits

This is the largest living terrestrial mammal. Its enormous ears serve as a remarkable cooling system for the body. Blood, in the large veins of the ears, is cooled by the flapping motion of the ears and is circulated throughout the body.

The elephant is a very social animal living in close knit family groups led by a mature female known as the matriarch. She leads and makes all decisions pertaining to movements of the group and will actively defend the group when it is threatened. Elephants are generally on the move when animals are feeding and must have access to water daily. Young bulls are generally driven out of the group at 10 to 12 years of age, while females remain with the group throughout their entire lives. Adult bulls usually maintain a solitary life unless checking a herd for estrous females. Mature bulls go into a period of musth, characterized by highly elevated testosterone levels, heavy oiling from the temporal glands and extreme aggression towards other male elephants, and in captivity towards their handlers.Bull elephants, in this extreme breeding condition, often engage in fierce battles which can prove fatal to the loser. Female elephant, such as Asha and Luna usually remain very stable for live and develop a strong attachment for their keepers, based on mutual trust and respect.

Asha came to us in 1985 as a 2-year old baby. She was about 4 feet tall at the time and weighed approximately 500 pounds. Asha is really a family pet that has outgrown her household status. She has received superior nutrition since her arrival and is considered large for her age. Asha enjoys giving rides and participating in her educational programs. All her training has been with positive reinforcement (lots of nutritional treats) and she eagerly awaits each session.