Two sweet African elephant calves are a silhouette balanced against the sunset colors reflecting in the water. Two adult elephants walk in front of the two cute calves. To this waterhole come many elephant herds to drink in the evenings. Likewise, so do single elephant bulls. That herd did not have many family members. The silhouette of the African elephant calves shows a typical African sunset scene by Mother Nature herself.
Elephant calves are one of the most advanced when it comes to new-born capabilities. Calves weigh around 91 kgs / 200 lbs. Subsequently, having to drink 11 liters / 3 gallons of their mothers’ milk a day. Interestingly, calves cannot control their trunks too well for the first year of their lives. Similarly to human babies, they learn control from their mothers. The herd is supportive of all new off-spring. African elephant calves will be looked after by not only mothers but other members too. Elephants have the longest gestation period out of any mammal. It lasts up to 23 months. Like humans, calves cannot see very well when born. They will recognize their mother by smell, scent, and touch.
African elephants, Loxodonta africana, are in the category vulnerable in the IUCN list.
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