Elephants are the largest land animals in existence today and are known for their high intelligence. Two genera are currently known: African elephants and Asian elephants.
These are very long-lived animals thanks largely to the fact that they have no natural predators. However, unlike what happens with other animal species, in captivity they reduce their life expectancy to just over half, something of concern for the conservation of the species.
In this article on our site we explain how many years an elephant lives, the risk factors that reduce its longevity and other curiosities. Keep reading:
The life expectancy of the elephant
Determining how long an elephant lives is not easy. These are long-lived animals that in the wild usually reach 40 or 60 years However, this is an approximate figure since keeping track of these wonderful wild animals it is extremely complicated. It is estimated that they can reach 90 years of life.
The life expectancy of an elephant can vary depending on the environment they live in and access to he althcare. Factors such as stress or mistreatment of elephants in Thailand also have an influence, which have a very negative impact on the he alth of these beautiful mammals. In fact, this is one of the main concerns of animalists and scientists, since elephants deprived of their wild life live between 19 and 20 yearsA significant reduction in your life expectancy.
Factors that reduce the life expectancy of elephants
One of the biggest factors preventing this majestic animal from achieving greater longevity is without a doubt Human beings Hunting elephants for the ivory trade, is one of the main enemies of elephants. This is a factor that has reduced its population by almost 90% in the last 40 years and that puts the survival of the species in the wild at risk.
Another factor that prevents a longer life for the elephant is that from the age of 40, his teeth wear down, which prevents them from eating normally and causes malnutrition. Once they use their last set of teeth, death is inevitable.
In addition, there are other he alth factors that prevent the elephant from having a longer life, regardless of its access to he alth or not, for example arthritis and vascular problems, both factors related to its size and weight. In captivity, life expectancy is reduced by more than half since, due to stress and lack of space, elephants suffer from a lack of exercise that results in extreme obesity.
Fun facts about the life of elephants
There are many curiosities about the elephant, a species that is undoubtedly incredible and intelligent. However, here are three curious facts related to their life expectancy:
- According to a study by the English University of Sheffield with Asian elephants, young female elephants who give birth before the age of 19 double their chances of dying.
- When elephants are about to die, they look for a pool of water to stay there, until their heart stops beating.
- The longest-lived elephant in history was Lin Wang, an elephant used by the Chinese Expeditionary Forces in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Even in captivity, this animal reached the amazing figure of 86 years of age.
Now that you know how long an elephant lives and the factors that influence its life expectancy, remember to respect its freedom and avoid promoting its uses in the tourist, commercial or entertainment industry.
