In Conclusion

The elephant is the largest land mammal on Earth and perhaps one of the most intelligent. They are among the largest herbivores (plant eaters) preferring grasses, leaves, trees, and shrubs. Because of its great size, strength and need for enormous quantities of food and water, it requires a large amount of habitat. As vegetarians, elephants require much food, sometimes consuming more than 225 kg of plant matter a day. Their trunk is employed to pull branches off trees, uproot grass, pluck fruit, and to place food in their mouths. Elephants spend about 16 hours a day eating. In both sexes, the two incisor teeth of the upper jaw grow to form tusks, and it is for this ivory, that hunters have slaughtered thousands of these magnificent animals.
Although there are still some large populations of elephants, overall their range is less contiguous and in many areas significantly fragmented. Much of the existing population is fragmented by human activities that disturb traditional migratory routes. The elephant still faces population declines due to poaching, habitat destruction and human encroachment.