Today, we will learn about one of Botswana’s most amazing animals, the elephant! Elephants are remarkable creatures that play a vital role in nature. They are smart, social and gentle giants that help keep our environment healthy. In this field note, we will explore what elephants look like, where they live, how they survive, what dangers they face and why it’s important to protect them. Did you know Botswana is home to the largest elephant population in the world? Over 130,000 elephants are living in the country!
Elephants are the largest land animals in the world! They have big, floppy ears shaped like the map of Africa, long trunks they use like hands and thick gray skin that helps protect them from the hot sun. Both male and female elephants have tusks made of ivory, which they use to dig for water or strip bark from trees. Here’s a fun fact: An elephant’s trunk has over 40,000 muscles; it’s strong enough to pull down a tree, but gentle enough to pick up a single blade of grass!
When I saw elephants for the first time in the wild, I felt amazed and a little bit small. They were so big and calm, moving slowly through the trees. I could hear the sound of their feet on the ground and the gentle rumble of their voices. It felt peaceful and powerful at the same time.
