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Part 2: 12 Amazing facts about the world’s largest land mammal

Did you know an elephant's skin is so sensitive that they can feel a fly land on it?

In case you missed it, Read first:

Part 1: 12 Amazing facts about the world’s largest land mammal

 

If you enjoyed reading part one of things you didn’t know about elephants, here is the next batch:

13. An elephant can smell water from 12 miles away.

14. They can also detect rain 150 miles away.

15. Elephants have 6 sets of teeth. Each set falls out and is replaced with a new one, until eventually, they fall out for good when the elephant is old. When that happens, the elephant dies from a combination of old age and malnutrition.

16. Their skin is so sensitive that they can feel a fly landing on it.

17. Elephants don’t actually like peanuts – and they don’t eat them in the wild.

18. Female elephants live in groups of around 15. They’re all led by one matriarch, who basically makes all the decisions for the herd.

Elephants Trunk GIF by BBC Earth - Find & Share on GIPHY

19. Elephants can recognise themselves in a mirror.

20. There are only two distinct species of elephant left in the world: The African elephant and the Asian elephant.

21. Elephants have two gaits. One is a walk and one is like a run. However, they can’t jump.

22. Their very large ears are used to radiate excess heat away from the body.

23. Elephants sometimes hug -and greet each other – by wrapping their trunks together.

24. Infant elephants have few survival instincts and are instead taught by their mothers and their herd.

25. One of the largest and most famous elephants of all time was this one, named Jumbo.

GIF by BBC - Find & Share on GIPHY

 

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