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Elephant Interview

Submitted by Mrs Cooke from New Zealand on March 23, 2009

Questions and Answers

Question #1.
What is the average lifespan of an African Elephant and about how old are they when the elephants are hunted?
Answer:
Elephants live into their fifties; however, they can live into their seventies. Elephants are hunted for three reasons: 1) sport trophy hunters. These elephants are usually the largest and oldest bull (male) elephants; 2) illegal ivory trade. Elephants that are illegally hunted for their tusks can be just about any age as long as they have tusks. The larger the tusk, the more valuable it is; 3) elephants are hunted for the bushmeat trade. Elephants that are illegally hunted for the bush meat trade can also be of any age. Again, the larger the elephant, the more valuable it is. Illegal hunting for ivory and the bush meat trade are significant threats to elephant populations.

Question #2.
Are the tusks necessary for Elephants and what are they used for?
Answer:
Tusks are not absolutely necessary for the elephant. There are elephants that have one or no tusks. The tusks are used for digging for food and water, breaking branches for food, defense and fighting. Elephants without tusks are at a disadvantage, but can live a full life.

Question #3.
How do you manage the transition from taking the wild elephants into captivity?
Answer:
Wild elephants are very seldom taken into captivity.

Question #4.
Why does the elephant sway from side to side and can they ever sit or kneel in their lifetime?
Answer:
Swaying elephants are showing what is called stereotypic behavior. This is generally a way of relieving stress and is seen in elephants under some captive conditions. Elephants can kneel, sit and lie down. I have seen elephants sleeping lying down in the wild several times.


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