WildlifeTrip

What do Elephants Eat?

Given their large size, you can probably guess that elephants eat a massive amount of food. In fact, because they are the biggest land animals in the world, the amount of calories an elephant consumes in a 24 hour period would be enough to sustain a human being for several months.

While we know elephants eat a lot, you might be wondering “what do elephants eat?”. This question is a bit more tricky to answer if you aren’t an expert in these magnificent animals. Thankfully, in this article, we’re going to answer this question and more!

Are Elephants Plant Eaters (or ‘Herbivores’)?

Are you familiar with the eating patterns of elephants? Believe it or not, they are herbivores – let’s dive into what that means.

The Latin word “herbivora” means “to eat a small plant or herb”’. That means herbivorous animals only consume vegetables and other forms of vegetation. An elephant’s diet consists of plants and shrubs.

Over time, elephants have evolved to be able to live off of the green of the earth and nearby bodies of water. The need for a vegetation-rich diet eventually aided in transforming their body entirely. For example, elephants are equipped with flat teeth to help them grind their food and tusks to strip bark from a tree.

Unlike humans who grow baby teeth that are then replaced by adult teeth, elephants continually replace rows of their teeth throughout their lifetime. Elephants are one of the few mammals to be a polyphyodont.

How Much do Elephants Eat & Drink?

It’s no surprise that elephants eat a ton of food every day – about 70 kg of food to be exact. They also drink an insane amount of water – around 45 liters every day!

However, the amount of food an elephant consumes can depend on their environment and food availability. For example, if an elephant lives in a hotter climate they are likely to drink more water than their temperate region counterparts. In some areas, elephants are required to drink huge amounts of water in a single sitting to compensate for the scarcity of water nearby. Elephants will travel around 10-20 km a day just to find an appropriate amount of food and water for their entire herd.

Experts have recorded some elephants traveling up to 180 km per day for food in the Etosha region of Namibia. They are willing to do whatever it takes! Elephants are sure to stick with their herd when searching for food and will enjoy the fruits of the labor together.

What do Elephants Eat?

Considering their size, elephants cannot be picky when it comes to food in order to keep their energy up. They will eat anything from leaves, twigs, bark, roots, fruits and flowers. In fact, they will eat anything if it’s nearby vegetation.

Otherwise, they drink water from any nearby body of water. In the hotter regions, they use water to regulate their body temperature and cool off. Excessive amounts of water are required to keep them hydrated daily. While the plants of the different regions may vary, elephants generally eat the same things.

What do African Elephants Eat?

Surrounded by forest trees, African elephants eat from the bounty of trees and bushes to preserve their health. It can be difficult for African elephants to stumble upon long grasslands.

But an adult can eat an entire tree. For the kids, they tend to stick to the small stuff like twigs, leave, bark, and fruit. African elephants have been coined with the nickname “browsers” because of their habit to browse from one tree to the other for sustenance.

What do Asian Elephants Eat?

Grasslands are plentiful for the Asian elephants, and they take advantage of it by eating a variety of grasses, woody plants, or trees.

In the dryer areas of Asia, elephants may rely on some bushes with thorns. Otherwise, Asian elephants’ diet is very similar to their African cousins which features twigs, bark, leaves, and roots.

Asian elephants have been coined with the nickname “grazers” because of how they mozy on the grasslands and eat vegetation that is lower to the ground.

What do Savanna Elephants Eat?

Savanna elephants indulge in weeds such as Prickly Pear, Mesquite, and Rubber Vine. Elephants in this region prefer the Acacia and Bushwillow trees for munching.

Fun fact: In order to help with digestion, baby elephants will often eat their mother’s dung.

Why do Elephants Eat so Much Food?

Elephants’ large frame requires a huge amount of food to sustain themselves. They could never eat a twig and sleep the rest of the day.

There are a few reasons why elephants eat around 150 kg of food and drink 40 liters of water every day:

  • They need copious amounts of energy found in food to survive.
  • Traveling 15-30 km with a lot of weight requires excessive amounts of food to manage the journey.
  • In the drier areas, where water is scarce, elephants need to drink a large amount of water to stay hydrated.

Another Reason Why Elephants Eat so Much

Elephants require so much food because the majority of the food they eat does not digest. Since their bodies are not digesting, they are always craving more energy and therefore, more food.

But elephants have a day long digestion period. That means they have to wait an entire day before loading up the calories again. Plus, elephants only sleep around 3-4 hours a day. Just reading that is enough to make anyone feel exhausted!

What do Elephants Eat – Frequently Asked Questions

See a brief list of what elephants eat below:

  • Shrubs
  • Twigs
  • Bushes
  • Fruits
  • Tree bark
  • Shoots
  • Roots
  • Leaves

…and more.

Are Elephants Carnivores?

No. Elephants are considered herbivores, which means they do not eat meat. Instead they snack on vegetation such as twigs, shrubs, bushes, and leaves. They’re also known to enjoy fruits and tree bark. Other animals, like lions, tigers, and cheetahs, are a few carnivores that eat meat.

Do Elephants Like Bananas?

Yes, elephants eat bananas, since they grow from the earth. With that being said, you would need a lot of bananas to satisfy an elephant’s hunger!

What do Elephants Eat in The Zoo?

Zookeepers pay close attention to their elephants in order to provide a precise diet every day. They record the body-mass index of the elephant and activity levels to ensure they are receiving an appropriate amount of food.

Elephants are generally given hay, fruits, pellets and vegetables at the zoo while browsing through the available shrubs and trees.

Conclusion

If you’ve read this article, then you should be able to answer the question ‘what do elephants eat?” whenever someone asks you. As you can see, elephants consume a lot of food and a wide variety of it as well.

The simplest way to describe an elephant’s diet, though, is to say they are ‘herbivores’. Unlike other animals in the wild — who are carnivorous, meaning they consume meat — elephants like to chow down on plants and fruits.

What do Lions Eat?

Lions are incredible, yet ferocious, animals. With this in mind, it’s no wonder why so many are intrigued when it comes to how lions behave and what their diets consist of.

If you’ve ever pondered the question “what do lions eat?”, the short answer is “meat and flesh”. As apex predators, lions are adept at hunting for their food, which is typically other animals that live within its habitat. This can include anything from antelopes, giraffes, zebras, wild hogs and even crocodiles.

The long list of animals lions prey upon is one of the main reasons they are referred to as the ‘kings of the jungle’. To put it simply, lions are at the top of the food chain in the wild and can almost hunt any animal they choose given their brute strength, sharp teeth and claws, and intelligence.

In this article, we’re going to explore what lions eat in detail to help you fully understand these amazing (and massive) felines.

Exploring a Lion’s Diet

Lions are carnivorous animals that only eat meat. A carnivore is an animal that scavenges or hunts animals to gain energy and nutrients from their respective flesh and tissue.

As the “Apex Predator”, lions are at the top of the food chain which means no other animal sees them as prey. Also referred to as “Obligate Carnivores”, lions only consume animal flesh for nourishment. “Facultative Carnivores” are animals that eat non-animal foods in addition to meat.

Why Do Lions Eat Meat

As “Obligate Carnivores”, over 70% of a lion’s diet relies on meat. Lions do not naturally produce the level of amino acids their bodies need to survive. In order to fulfil their daily intake, lions have to consume animal flesh.

While lions cannot effectively digest vegetation, they still may nibble on some grass or fruits. Lions do not have the enzymes responsible to break down plant matter; they can only digest meat successfully.

What Animals do Lions Prey on?

Lions are not picky when it comes to what they prey on, including:

  • Antelopes
  • Giraffes
  • Rhinoceros
  • Buffaloes
  • Smaller elephants
  • Zebras
  • Wild Hogs
  • Crocodiles

If they were to come across these smaller prey, they are very likely to eat them as well:

  • Mice
  • Birds
  • Hares
  • Tortoises
  • Lizards

Exploring a Lion’s Diet in The Wild

Lions will eat any and every animal they are able to capture. In the wild, this results in a wide variety of animals in their daily diet.

Zebras, Pigs, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, giraffes, rhinos, and wildebeests are the animals lions are most likely to consume. Lions will also prey on small and young offspring of large animals anywhere from 50 to 300 kg in size.

On average, an adult lion kills 15 animals annually. They usually feed off of the corpses of kills made by the hunters of the lions’ pride. In the wild, scavenging accounts for half of a lions diet.

What Do Lions Eat at The Zoo?

In a zoo, lions are usually kept to a diet of beef (sometimes the bones as well), chicken, rabbit, sheep, and horse.

In addition to the animal flesh, captive lions will indulge in commercially and specially formulated cat food. These foods are crafted to sustain all of a lion’s dietary needs.

What African Lions Eat

Usually found in the grasslands, African lions often eat:

  • Antelopes
  • Wildebeest
  • Zebras

What White Lions Eat

White lions are also obligate carnivores so they require the flesh of animals to satisfy their dietary needs.

These days, white lions are rarely found in the wild where they originated from Timbavati, South Africa. They would eat the same animals as African lions including zebras, pigs, buffaloes, gazelles, rabbits, and wildebeests.

They are often found in captivity where they are held by a variety of animals and the formulated cat food.

What Do Lions Prefer To Eat?

Considering lions’ digestive systems are crafted to digest animal flesh, they will always crave other animals. Some of their favorite animals include:

  • Antelopes
  • Buffaloes
  • Crocodiles
  • Young or small elephants
  • Giraffe
  • Hippos
  • Hogs
  • Rhinos
  • Wildebeests
  • Zebras

How Much & How Often Do Lions Eat?

An average lion in the wild eats around 10 and 25 pounds (4.5 and 11 kg) of food per day.

If there are copious amounts of food, male lions are able to eat up to 43 kg of meat compared to a female who can ingest up to 25 kg in a day.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommends that a male lion in captivity should eat around 3.6 kg (8 pounds) and a female should eat around 2.7 kg (6 pounds). Lions are required to eat daily. However, they are able to survive up to 14 days without food if necessary.

How Lions Eat Their Food

Like most carnivores, lions are equipped with three types of teeth:

  • Canines
  • Incisors
  • Carnassials

In order to eat their food, they use their specialized teeth and strong jaws. A lion’s mouth can open up to 11 inches (28 cm) wide. Lions also have one of the largest bites in the animal kingdom.

The extreme long and sharp canine teeth are used for grasping and killing their prey, while thier incisors are the smaller teeth in the front of the moth used for tearing smaller pieces of meat from the fresh corpse.

In order to tear away large chunks of meat, lions use their sharp carnassial teeth located in the bath of their mouth. Instead of chewing their food, lions just swallow large chunks of meat.

Where & When Do Lions Eat?

Lions almost always consume their prey immediately after to kill. But if they kill their prey in a body of water, they will pull it to the shore first.

If they are unable to finish the meal in its entirety, they will guard the carcass from unwanted scavengers and wait until they are hungry again. Sometimes, lions will enjoy their kill in the shade to avoid the heat.

While lions can hunt during the day, they usually save their prey for the nighttime. After a pride successfully kills their prey, they take turns eating the flesh. Adult males go first, then lionnesses, and then the cubs and older or weaker lions.

Do Lions Eat Each Other?

Lions usually only kill each other if there is a conflict in the pride or a shift in control in a new territory. From time to time, male lions will kill a lioness who refuses to mate in a newly acclaimed territory.

Do Lions Eat Their Cubs?

Lions will sometimes kill and eat their cubs in order to make their mother pregnant. Male lions may also kill and eat new young cubs of a new territory.

Do Lions Eat Humans?

It is uncommon for lions to eat humans, however there have been a few cases where a lion has eaten a human. The most famous case being the 1898 Tsavo man-eaters. In 9 months, two lions consumed 28 railways workers while they were building the Kenya-Uganda railway.

American and Tanzanian scientists revealed a staggering report. From 1990 to 2005, at least 563 villagers in the rural parts of Tanzania were attacked by lions and many were eaten.

Packer estimates that 200 to 400 Tanzanian people are killed by wild animals, 70 of these deaths are by lions.

At least 35 people were killed by a main-eating lion in Southern Tanzania along the Rufiji river, before game scouts hunted and killed it in April of 2004. Asian lions are also capable of eating humans. Attacks on humans were reported twice in 2012 from an area about 55 km from the Gir sanctuary.

Conclusion

As you can see, when it comes to what lions eat, it can vary depending on the region and circumstances the lion is in. Regardless, though, all lions eat meat and flesh and love to hunt for their prey, which is what makes them such a ferocious predator in the wild.

For more fun facts and guides about wild animals, check out some of the other articles on WildlifeTrip!

12 Largest Bear Species in the World

Wow! These bears are huge! They’re not the teddy bears you played with as a kid. Some may look cute and cuddly but these big furry creatures definitely aren’t. Keep your distance, especially if you encounter one in the wild. Most of us will generally see them only in zoos though, and these largest bear species of the world are definitely worth a visit. You probably won’t find all the bears in all the zoos; your best chance of seeing some bears may be in its native country.

12. Sun Bear

Sun Bearflickr/tontantravel

The sun bear is native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, it’s known as the Malayan honey bear due to its fondness for the sweet sticky substance. The sun bear is the smallest bear, topping out at about 176 pounds and about five feet tall. They have short black fur with light-colored muzzles, with the white area extending above the eyes. The bear has powerful jaws and claws. It is declining in numbers due to deforestation of its habitat.

11. Giant panda

Giant Pandaflickr/Chi King

The giant panda is the model for cute and cuddly. It’s roly-poly with a white face and body surrounded by black fur around its neck, legs and ears. Unlike other bears, the panda is basically vegetarian, with bamboo making up 99 percent of its diet. The panda is native to the mountains of southcentral China, particularly Sichuan Province. These chubby bears have a girth up to six feet in diameter and weigh up to 250 pounds. They are an endearing symbol of China.

10. Sloth bear

Big beautiful sloth bear male is searching termites in India

The sloth bear, which evolved from the brown bear in the Pleistocene period, is native to the Indian subcontinent. It’s a nocturnal insect-eating bear with a lower lip designed to suck the bugs in. The sloth bear is lankier than the Asian black bear, with longer fur, pale muzzles with bulbous snouts and white claws. They weigh up to 290 pounds and can be as high as 6 feet. They have been known to attack humans who invade their territory.

9. Asian black bear

Black bear roaring

Asian black bears don’t like humans very much, understandable since man hunts them for body parts and traditional medicines. They’re found in mountainous regions of Asia, from Taiwan and northeastern China to the northern Indian subcontinent and the Russian Far East. The Asian black bear also is known as moon bear or white-chested bear because of the V or half-moon shaped white fur on their chest. They’re a medium-sized bear (average 6 feet tall and 300 pounds) that resembles prehistoric bears. They walk upright more than other bears.

8. Spectacled bear

Spectacled Bear

The spectacled bear got its name because rings around its eyes make it look like it’s wearing eye glasses. A medium-sized bear, the spectacled bear is the only bear native to South America. Although it’s considered a meat eater, meat makes up only about 5 percent of the spectacled bear’s diet. Its fur is generally black, but can also be brown or reddish shades. It can be found in the cloud forests of the Andes Mountains, mainly in South America’s northern and western regions.

7. American black bear

American Black Bear

The American black bear is the smallest bear species on the North American continent, but is the most commonly found anywhere from Alaska to Florida and from California to Canada’ Maritime Provinces.. They prefer forested habitat and sometimes attached themselves to human communities because of the easy availability of food – they are the garbage dump scavengers. Maybe that’s where they learned to open screw-top jars. The American black bear evolved from the sun bear thousands of years ago.

6. Eurasian brown bear

European Brown Bear

The Eurasian brown bear also is known as the European brown bear where it can be found in the mountainous regions of northern Europe, but as far south as the Pyrenees. The largest population can be found in the Siberian forests. The bear was hunted to extinction in Britain by 1000 AD. Ancient Romans used to watch these bears fight in arenas. The bear sports long shaggy hair in various shades of brown. This bear was the inspiration for the names of two constellations, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

5. Grizzly bear

Grizzly Bears of alaska

They don’t make scary movies about this bear for nothing. The grizzly bear’s Latin name, Ursus horriblis,means “terrifying bear.” The grizzly also is known as the silvertip bear because its gray-tipped hair, and sometimes as the North American brown bear, as it’s the same species. Whatever you call it, it’s ferocious and huge – males weigh almost 800 pounds and stand more than 6 feet tall. Grizzlies range in color from blond to almost black, but typically are brown. They have a distinguishing hump on their shoulders.

4. Ussuri brown bear

Ussuri Brown Bearflickr/nAok0

The Ussuri brown bear is one of the largest brown bears, and is sometimes known as the black grizzly. They are indigenous to Russia northeast Asia. On the Shiretoko Peninsula on Japan’s Hokkaido Island, females with cubs stay near fishermen, reportedly to avoid adult male bears. Their population is declining in northeast China where they’re hunted for body parts, but they’re considered national monuments in North Korea. They’ve been known to attack and even kill humans, while they themselves are occasionally turned into dinner by Siberian tigers.

3. Kamchatka brown bear

Kamchatka Brown Bearwikipedia/Robert F. Tobler

The Kamchatka brown bear, the largest bear in Eurasia, is basically found in the Kamchatka area of Russia and surrounding islands as well as Alaska’s Saint Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. It’s one big bear, sometimes standing as high as 9 feet and weighing almost 1,500 pounds. It is believed to be the ancestor of the Kodiak bear. Depending on the season, they dine on berries, nuts, and, preferably, fish they catch themselves. They rarely attack humans, but are trophy bear for Russian hunters.

2. Kodiak bear

kodiak brown bear

The Kodiak bear, the largest brown bear in the world, is native to Alaska’s Kodiak islands. Big doesn’t begin to describe its size: some weigh 1,500 pounds and almost 10 feet tall when standing upright, even though they eat the same foods as other brown bears. They are usually brown but can be golden; young bears have a white ring around their necks for a few years. And, yes, they do attack humans, though humans are more prone to attack them.

1. Polar bear

Polar Bear walking on blue ice

The polar bear, along with the Kodiak bear, is the largest bear species in the world. It’s the same size as the Kodiak bear, only it’s white instead of brown. The polar bear lives primarily north of the Arctic Circle, where they’ve adapted to live in the frozen north. They’re born on land but spend most of their life on sea ice, with seals making up the bulk of their diet. They’re considered a vulnerable species since climate change is melting their habitat.

14 Most Interesting Animals in Namibia

Many travelers dream of going on safari in Africa where they can view wild animals in all their glory. Namibia, formerly part of South Africa, is a good place to start making your dream come true. While you may not see all of the Big Five – lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo and elephant – you should be able to cross a goodly number off your bucket list. The trick is knowing where to go. Etosha National Park is a great place to start, since its home to a wide variety of animals in Namibia.

14. Blue wildebeest

Blue Wildebeast

Though it resembles an American bison, because of its broad shoulders and heavy front end, the blue wildebeest is considered a large antelope, with cattle-like horns. It is an agile animal, quite aware of its surroundings. When it is spooked, it will take off running but stop after awhile, looking back to see if it’s still being chased. It lives in herds of 20 to 40 animals, preferring to live in southern Africa’s open savannahs. Etosha National Park is a good place to see them in the wild.

13. Spotted hyena

Spotted hyena

You shouldn’t have any problems spotting a spotted hyena in the wild since upwards of 47,000 exist in Africa. Also known as the laughing hyena, this animal is a native of sub-Sahara Africa, though the species roamed Europe and Asia in ancient times. Hyenas can be found mainly in Etosha and Skeleton Coast national parks, the Caprivi strip and Kaokoland. These bear-like animals are very social, running in packs that are dominated by the females. In the trivia department, the females have a pseudo penis and are the only mammal that doesn’t have a vaginal opening.

12. Ostrich

Ostrichflickr/Greg Willis

Ostriches can be found naturally in the wilds of Namibia. You’re more likely to see ostriches in the wild in the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, the Kalahari Desert or around Windhoek. Ostriches adapt well to the country’s deserts because they can go long periods without water. They prefer living on plains with short grasses and avoid rocky areas. If you don’t see any in their preferred habitat, however, you might try an ostrich farm. Ostriches are farmed in Namibia because their meat is lean and every body part can be used for other purposes besides food.

11. Brown fur seal

brown fur seal

The cape fur seal, known as the brown fur seal in Namibia, is the largest of the seals. It is an at-risk animal that lives on the coasts of southern Africa. The seals are being threatened by loss of preferred habitat, global warming and man, including the Namibian government, which has an aggressive culling program. These clumsy-on-land graceful-in-water animals can be seen in coastal waters off Namibia, where about two-thirds of the 1.5-2 million cape fur seals live. Cape Frio, on the border with Angola, is one of their breeding grounds. If you scuba drive, don’t be surprised to find a friendly seal accompanying you.

10. African leopard

Wild leopard standing in yellow grass

A good time to see the African leopard is early morning or late afternoon as these nocturnal cats are ending or starting their day. While leopards are hunted for sport in Namibia, they can be found in their natural environment at some conservation-oriented lodges such as Okonjima Bush Camp or Okonjima Main Lodge. These spotted animals look more fierce than kitten-cuddly. They eat everything from insects and antelopes to birds, fish and fruit. They stalk and pounce on their next meal, then may drag its carcass up a tree to protect it from other hungry animals.

9. Springbok

Springbokflickr/Caroline Granycome

The springbok is the most common antelope in Namibia, where it can be found in the Namib Desert, around Windhoek, and Etosha National Park where it can be found mingling with zebras and wildebeests. The springbok is one of the fastest antelopes, making predators work for their dinner. Both sexes have horns and are prone to “pronking,” whereby, in a stiff-legged posture, they leap into the air multiple times, jumping as high as six feet. They can go several years between drinks of water, mainly because their water requirement is fulfilled by the vegetation they eat.

8. Plains zebra

Zebra - Etosha, Namibia

The plains zebra is also known as Burchell’s zebra after the naturalist W.J. Burchell. These horse-like animals are noted for their black stripes, usually on a white ,but sometimes gold, background. Plains zebras may all look the same to the casual observer, but each individual has a stripe pattern that is unique to it. They’ll herd with other animals in Namibia, such as wildebeests and ostriches, because of the protection they provide from predators. When they flee from danger, they’ll do so at the speed of the slowest herd member. Chances are good for spotting them in the wild in Etosha National Park, since it’s one of the most common animals there with a 20,000 population.

7. Meerkat

Meerkat

The Kalahari offers your best chance to see meerkats in the wild, though these small mammals may also be found elsewhere in southern Namibia, including game lodges where they are used to humans. They don’t like very dry or very wet habitat. Visitors sometimes mistake ground squirrels for meerkats, even though the meerkat is a much bigger animal. It’s colored differently, too, being sandy or gray with a dark band across the back. When they sit upright on their hind legs, such as after getting up in the morning or when sunning themselves, they tend to resemble the American prairie dog.

6. Gemsbok

gemsbok

The oryx gazelle is a species of antelope that is more familiarly known by its Afrikaans name, gemsbok. It is the national animal of Namibia, where they are found throughout the country, frequently along roadsides. The gemsbok is a hardy animal, able to live in harsh areas that are inhabitable to other antelope. Unlike other antelope, which are usually beige in color, the gemsbok is gray with black and white markings. They’re hunted for sport in Namibia, but it’s not uncommon for one gemsbok to die from fighting with another male, since the horns cause deep stab wounds.

5. South African Cheetah

Africa. Namibia. Cheetahs

The South African cheetah dominates the cheetah world in southern African, both in demeanor and numbers. Also known as the Namibian cheetah, this medium-sized cat has a vulnerable status, with only about 6,000 existing. More than half of them can be found in Namibia, especially in farming areas. They can also be found in the Kalahari Basin, Kaokoveld, Namib and the northeast, as well as the protected areas of Namib-Naukluft and Bwabwata national parks. The South African cheetah has a spotted bright yellow or gold coat with a white underside. The males are sociable and live in groups, while females prefer the solitary life.

4. Giraffe

Giraffe herd at waterhole

The giraffe, the tallest of all animals, is a common sight in Etosha National Park, particularly on the road between Numatoni and Klein Numatoni. You’ll notice on this road that the acacia trees have flat tops – that was caused by giraffes snacking on them. The animals do well in dry areas because they can go a long time between drinks of water. They also have nostrils that close up when dust storms occur. The species gets its name from an Arab word, zaralah, which translates as “one who walks quickly.” Despite its gangly looks and height, the giraffe does indeed move quickly – as fast at 37 mph.

3. African Bush Elephant

Herd of Elephants in Sossusvlei, Namibia

If you’ve only seen live elephants in zoos or circuses before, you’re going to love seeing these Animals in Namibia in the wild. The country has a healthy elephant population. The dry winter months are the best time to see them in Etosha National Park, though any time is actually good. They can also be found in the Zambezi region where they skip customs to cross international borders into Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Often living to 70 years old, the African bush elephant can eat up to 500 pounds of vegetation and drink up to 50 quarts of water in a day. Hey! Whatever it takes to maintain that svelte 10-ton figure!

2. African Lion

Big male lion

The king of the beasts, the African Lion, can be found in several places in Namibia, mostly in the north: Etosha National Park, Kunene, Kaudom and Caprivi. Etosha, Kaudom and a small section of Caprivi have the highest populations. A smaller number can be found in the south at the ecotourist-oriented Kalahari Game Lodge. Your chances of seeing these magnificent creatures may only be so-so, since there are only about 800 lions in the wild, despite Namibia being a force behind lion preservation efforts. FYI, the lion is the only animal that will attack a standing giraffe.

1. White rhinoceros

Herd of white rhinoceros grazing under trees near Omaruru, Namibia, Africa

Namibia is a good place to see white rhinoceros, an animal that is found mostly in four countries in Africa: Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Once nearly extinct, their population has increased sufficiently to remove them from the endangered list; they are the only rhino species not on the list. Their name is derived from an Afrikaans word, “weit,” which means wide, not white. The wide refers to their wide muzzle, not the color of their hide. Their preferred habitat is grassy savannahs. Etosha National Park is a good place to see them.

10 Largest Whale Species on the Planet

As the largest marine mammals on the planets, whales are an incredible collection of animals that have fascinated and delighted researchers and observers alike for thousands of years. Whales are linked to the ancient cultures of the past, have played pivotal roles in the development of entire nations and are some of the most sought-after species in the world. While whales come in a range of sizes, humans have always been drawn to the largest of these amazing creatures. Count down the top largest whales species on the planet to learn more.

10. Minke Whale (up to 35 feet or 10.5 meters)

minke whale

The first on the list is the Minke whale, which is typically a black, dark grey or even slightly purple color. Minke whales are a type of baleen whale, which makes them carnivorous. Mike whales can be divided into two major groups depending on where they live: The northern minke whale and the antarctic minke whale. Minke whales can live between 40 and 50 years, on average, and are capable of diving up to water for a staggering 20 minutes at a time before needing to come up for air.

minke whale sizewikipedia/Chris huh

9. Bryde’s Whale (46 feet / 14 meters)

brydes whalewikipedia/Aucklandwhale

The Bryde’s whale is named after John Bryde, a Norwegian who helped to establish the first whaling station in South Africa. Bryde’s whales are commonly spotted off the coast of Southern Africa, but they are also found in places like Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii and California. Residing in tropical and subtropical waters, the grey-colored Bryde’s Whale can grow to become nearly 50 feet in length and weigh up to 25 tons. Bryde’s whales tend to stay in pairs, although they might be seen in larger groups when feeding.

brydes whale size

8. Gray Whale (49 feet/ 15 meters)

gray whale

The gray whale goes by many names, including the Pacific gray whale and the California gray whales. As these monikers suggest, the whale is both gray and a resident of the coastal waters of California. While they did live in the North Atlantic until the 18th century, whaling has eliminated them in this part of the world altogether. The gray whale is often seen with white scars on its body, which are left behind when parasites drop off. An average gray whale can grow to become 36 tons, with a few outliers coming in even heavier.

gray whale size

7. Sei Whale (52 feet / 16 meters)

sei whale

The sei whale is another baleen whale, but it can grow to become much larger than the minke whale. A sei whale can easily surpass 50 feet in length by maturity and weigh as much as 28 tons. A sei whale can be recognized by its dark grey color and its irregular white markings on the front of the body. The sei whale also boasts a slightly arched rostrum, which is one of the few things that separates its appearance from the similar bryde’s whale.

sei whale size

6. Humpback Whale (52 feet / 16 meters)

humpback whale

The humpback whale is one of the more distinctive whales species on the planet, and it is easily recognized thanks to its unique head shape and long pectoral fins. Humpback whales are also more likely to breach than most other species, and they spend a lot of time at the surface of the water. This makes them easier to spot and photograph above water. Humpback whales are typically migratory, birthing in the winter and relying on fat stores through the journey. This is easy to do, because the large humpback whales can weigh a whopping 30 tons or more in maturity.

humpback whale size

5. Bowhead Whale (59 feet / 18 meters)

bowhead whaleflickr/Day Donaldson

The bowhead whale is an unusual species for a number of reasons, including the fact that it doesn’t have a dorsal fin and it has the largest mouth of any whale. Bowhead whales reside in the cold waters of the Arctic and Subarctic, and they can grow to a mammoth 59 feet (18 metes) in length. Their weight, however, is even more impressive, with some males weighing in at nearly 100 tons.

bowhead whale size

4. Right Whale (60 feet / 18.3 meters)

right whaleflickr/Oregon State University

The right whale is actually a collection of three very similar whale species: The North Atlantic right whale, the Southern right whale and the North Pacific right whale. Each of these whales is characterized by their round bodies, blowholes in the shape of a V and very dark skin. They got their name because they were specifically pointed out by whalers as the “right” whale to harvest plenty of meat and blubber. An average right whale can grow to 60 feet (18 meters) in length and weigh up to, or even slightly over, 100 tons.

right whale

3. Sperm Whale (67 feet / 20.5 meters)

sperm whaleflickr/lakpura

The largest of the toothed whales is the sperm whale, one of the few whale species that can live in a range of environments and is therefore found in oceans across the world. Females travel and live in groups, while male sperm whales are solitary animals except for mating. Sperm whales grow to an average of 67 feet (20.5 meters) in length, with the males weighing up to 56 tons. However, it should be noted that whaling may have reduced the overall size of these whales, as the largest were targeted by whale hunters in decades past.

sperm whale size

2. Fin Whale (90 feet / 27.5 meters)

fin whalewikipedia/Aqqa Rosing-Asvid

Also known as the razorback whale or the common rorqual, the fin whale is the second-largest whale species in the world. The fin whale tends to be long and slender, with a dark brown body and a white underside. The fin whale can live anywhere from the Arctic to the Pacific, although it tends to mate in temperate waters. Fin whales are able to dive up to 1,500 feet below sea level with a single breath. These whales can grow to become nearly 90 feet (27.5 meters) long, although their slimmer shape means they weigh a maximum of 72 tons.

fin whale size

1. Blue Whale (98 feet / 30 meters)

blue whaleflickr/noaaphotolib

The blue whale is not just the largest whale species, it is also the largest known animal in the world. Blue whales can grow to be 98 feet (30 meters) in length, but they have been known to weigh upwards of 173 tons. Like the name suggests, blue whales are a dark blue color with a paler underside. Commercial whaling brought down the number of blue whales drastically, but today these animals live in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and in parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

blue whale size

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