Common Name/s: There are two species of elephant, the African elephant and the Asian Elephant (or Indian elephant)

Scientific Name/s: Loxodonta africana (African elephant), Elephas maximus (Asian elephant)

Range and Habitat: African elephants are currently found in 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Asian elephant is found primarily in large parts of India, Sri Lanka, Indochina peninsula and parts of Indonesia.

Status: Endangered

Elephants are descended from a long line of giant mammals, including the mammoths. African elephant numbers fell from 1,200,000 in 1970 to 600,000 in 1989 as a result of the trade in ivory. Ivory is used for jewelry, carvings and Hankos (name stamps carrying the personal seal of the owner). There are fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants left in the world.