The lifespan of an elephant. How many years does an elephant live in different conditions?

The elephant is the largest terrestrial mammal on the planet. And this animal grows up to old age. The life span of the elephant is approaching the age-old boundary.

Natural conditions

The cubs of these giants are often at risk of being eaten by predators. Elephants that survived the children's period do not have natural enemies, except for a person. If an animal can survive several prolonged droughts throughout life and find themselves six hundred kilograms of greenery and two hundred liters of water, if it does not become a prey for poachers, then the average life span of an elephant will be about seventy years.

Features of large animals

They are indiscriminate in food. But the life span of an elephant depends on the state of the teeth - after their wear and tear the animal dies from exhaustion. The calendula change six times, the last one at forty. After that, they are gradually destroyed and by the age of 50 animals are not able to chew food.

The weight of an adult giant reaches 3-4 tons. Elephant carries a baby 22 months. The newborn "baby" weighs almost 90 kg. Three years he eats milk from his mother, so for 36 months this couple is inseparable.

Elephants are smart, kind, calm, but they are also bad, evil, aggressive. By the way, if an animal is attached to one person, then only his life will be obeyed.

Giants in captivity

The life of an elephant in a zoo is much lower. Only isolated cases are known, when animals died at the age of 80, and then in Thailand. But whatever the proper feeding and proper care, elephants are social animals, they need like themselves.

In the natural environment, they live in groups - families. The male from birth to the age of fifteen is next to his mother. The female remains with female congeners until death. Daily exercise reaches tens of kilometers. In zoos, the conditions are completely different. Physical, social and psychological needs are not met here as much as possible in the wild. For normal life of elephants, zoos do not have enough territories. In addition, they are often separated, given for breeding in other zoos. Therefore, giants in captivity are ill, and the life span of an elephant is only 18-20 years.

Why the zoo is bad

As a result of research and observations of five thousand animals, the following conclusions are drawn:

1. Elephants are often unwell. Content in unsuitable conditions leads to arthritis and other limb diseases. After all, in nature, they daily go up to 50 km, moving for 18 hours. Animals take mud baths, sprinkle themselves with dust, dig. Even in the best zoo, the life of an elephant is not long. It is constantly on a solid surface, stands for a long time, often in its own waste. Consequently, infections penetrate the legs of animals, which leads to disease.
2. The nature of giants in captivity takes on a hysterical character. This manifests itself in the nodding and constant shaking of the head. The constant use of force and coercion, maintenance on the chain does not extend the life span of elephants.
3. Animals live in unsuitable climatic conditions. In winter, live in cages. In food they are added antidepressants, so that the animals seemed happy.
4. Mortality of cubs is much higher than in nature.
5. Zoos reduce the population of elephants, selecting them from wild families.

The life of giants in national parks

Here is the longest life of an elephant. They live practically in the wild, but are under the care and protection of the state. They are not afraid of poachers and hunters. Animals are periodically inspected and, in the event of some diseases or injuries, provided with medical care. If it is noticed that the elephant can not feed itself or the baby elephant is left without a mother, they will be placed in a nursery. They will look after the grown-up giant to death, and the little one will be released to the park when he grows up.

Giants in Thailand

In this country, for many centuries, elephants have enjoyed the inhabitants with love, respect and reverence. In the monasteries are their bronze sculptures and statuettes. The local population is sure that animal figures are made from real prototypes that served in the ancient times at the Siamese court. They carried out certain work to carry heavy loads for the construction of fortresses and city fortifications. Fighting ferocious elephants during the war were able to turn the enemy's troops.

With their help, the rulers of South-East Asia - the famous duels on elephants - clarified relations. Albino animals have always been considered a symbol of victory and good luck in Thailand. Since there are very few of them in nature, possession of a white elephant became a cherished goal for monarchs. States that owned such animals were considered very powerful. Because of them, even wars exploded.

Today, poachers have reduced the number of elephants in Thailand from 20,000 (1976) to 5,000. Mass deforestation also affected the number of animals.

If you think about it, it does not really matter how many years an elephant lives. The main thing is that it exists freely and without danger to health.

Subtle soul organization of elephants

With all the strictest prohibitions on hunting and the export of ivory, the number of these giants is steadily declining. The reason lies in the impossibility of multiplying elephants in the wild. They can not stand the modern conditions of being. Animals "understand" that the offspring will not be able to survive in the conditions of bad air and cutting down the jungle.

In the north of Thailand there are special nurseries for breeding and keeping elephants. The food here they receive in the form of bananas and bamboo from tourists, for which perform mind-blowing tricks. Sloth begin to teach them almost from birth. In natural conditions they would be taught elephants to very different tricks - how to get the trunk food, how to sprinkle yourself with dust and water.

Good giants are very emotional and faithful animals. They can be sad and crying, but they can laugh. They have an excellent memory. Elephants bury their relatives - they cover their bodies with earth, cover with branches. Buried and those who were killed, protecting the young. Independent males, who left the herd, will help the former relatives if necessary, the trunk will always be fed.

Elephants, with their impressive external data, remain beings with a subtle spiritual organization. These quivering giants need to be protected by the whole world.