A huge gray from takes shape in the dim light of an African dawn, it’s an elephant, slowly moving toward the bank of the river. Cautiously, the great beast lifts its trunk and sniffs the air for danger. Then it rumbles a signal, and other elephants appear on the river bank. Soon all are drinking and bathing contentedly- snorting, rolling in the mud and playfully squirting water over themselves. Elephants are impressive creatures. Standing about 10 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing as much as 6 tons, they are the largest land animals. They are famous for their intelligence as well as for their size and strength.
Yet today these magnificent animals are in danger of disappearing. For years, hunters slaughtered elephants. Most of the animals were killed for one reason- their ivory tusks, which were valued for making jewelry and other items. Since 1989 an international ban on ivory trade has reduced the slaughter, but some elephants are still being killed. And elephants face another serious problem. Much of their natural habitats have been taken over by people.
