How many species of elephants are there, are they endangered, and how many remain in the wild?
Elephants, the largest living land animals, can reach 13 feet in height and weigh up to 16,000 pounds. Currently, two species of elephants, Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana), are recognized. Recent scientific work suggests, however, that the African elephant may, in fact, comprise two separate species: one in the savanna areas of Africa, and the other, which is smaller and whose tusks grow downward, in the deep forest areas of West and Central Africa. This issue is still under debate, however, and most conservation initiatives are proceeding on the basis of two elephant species.
