African Elephant vs. Woolly Mammoth

Attribute	African Elephant	Woolly Mammoth
Species	Loxodonta africana	Mammuthus primigenius
Size	Up to 13 feet tall	Up to 11 feet tall
Weight	Up to 6 tons	Up to 6 tons
Habitat	Sub-Saharan Africa	Tundra regions of North America, Europe, and Asia
Extinction	Not extinct	Extinct

Physical Appearance

The African Elephant and Woolly Mammoth are both large, majestic creatures that belong to the Elephantidae family. The African Elephant is the largest land animal on Earth, with males reaching up to 13 feet in height and weighing around 12,000 pounds. They have large ears that are shaped like the African continent, and their tusks can grow up to 6 feet long. In contrast, the Woolly Mammoth was slightly smaller than the African Elephant, with males reaching up to 11 feet in height and weighing around 6 tons. They had long, curved tusks and a thick, shaggy coat of fur to protect them from the cold temperatures of the Ice Age.

Habitat

African Elephants are found in sub-Saharan Africa, where they inhabit a variety of habitats including savannas, forests, and grasslands. They are known to travel long distances in search of food and water, and are often found near rivers and watering holes. Woolly Mammoths, on the other hand, lived during the Ice Age and were adapted to cold, harsh environments. They roamed the tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia, where they grazed on grasses and shrubs that were able to survive in the frigid temperatures.

Diet

Both the African Elephant and Woolly Mammoth are herbivores, meaning they primarily eat plants and vegetation. African Elephants have a varied diet that includes grasses, leaves, bark, and fruits. They use their trunk to pick up food and bring it to their mouths, and can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day. Woolly Mammoths also had a plant-based diet, feeding on grasses, sedges, and shrubs that were abundant in the tundra. They used their long tusks to dig through snow and ice to reach buried vegetation.

Behavior

African Elephants are known for their complex social structures and close family bonds. They live in herds led by a matriarch, who is usually the oldest and most experienced female. The matriarch makes decisions for the group and leads them to food and water sources. Woolly Mammoths are believed to have lived in small family groups, consisting of a female and her offspring. They may have also traveled in larger herds during certain times of the year, such as during migrations or mating season.

Extinction

One of the key differences between the African Elephant and Woolly Mammoth is their current status in the world. African Elephants are considered a vulnerable species, with populations declining due to habitat loss, poaching for ivory, and human-wildlife conflict. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these majestic animals and ensure their survival for future generations. In contrast, Woolly Mammoths went extinct around 4,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and human hunting. While there have been efforts to clone Woolly Mammoths using preserved DNA, they remain extinct in the wild.