Скачать или смотреть Elephants are considered keystone species due to their significant impact on the environment.

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Elephants are herbivores that typically reside near accessible water sources. They are considered keystone species due to their significant impact on the environment. Elephants exhibit a fission-fusion social structure, allowing multiple family groups to come together for socializing.

Female elephants, known as cows, usually live in family units that may consist of a single mother with her calves or several related females with their offspring. The leader of a female group, typically the oldest cow, is referred to as the matriarch.

Male elephants, or bulls, leave their family groups upon reaching puberty and may live either alone or with other males. Adult bulls primarily interact with family groups when seeking mates. During this time, they experience a surge in testosterone and aggression, known as musth, which helps them establish dominance over other males and improve their chances of reproductive success. Calves are the center of attention in their family groups and rely on their mothers for up to three years. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild.

Elephants communicate through touch, sight, smell, and sound, utilizing infrasound and seismic communication to convey messages over long distances. Their intelligence has been compared to that of primates and cetaceans, suggesting they may possess self-awareness and exhibit concern for dying individuals and their deceased companions.

African bush elephants and Asian elephants are listed as endangered, while African forest elephants are classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. One of the greatest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade, as they are often poached for their tusks. Other dangers to wild elephants include habitat destruction and conflicts with local communities.

In Asia, elephants are used as working animals. Historically, they were utilized in warfare, but today, they are often controversially displayed in zoos or used for entertainment in circuses. Elephants hold an iconic status in human culture and have been prominently featured in art, folklore, religion, literature, and popular