Elephants are large mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, two species are recognised, the African elephant (pictured) and the Asian elephant, although some evidence suggests that African bush elephants and African forest elephants are separate species. The largest living terrestrial animals, male African elephants can reach a height of 4 m (13 ft) and weigh 7,000 kg (15,000 lb). Distinctive features include the trunk, used for many purposes, and tusks, which serve as tools and weapons. Females (or "cows") tend to live in family groups; males (or "bulls") leave their family groups when they reach puberty, and may live alone or with other males. Adult bulls mostly interact with family groups when looking for a mate. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild, and their intelligence has been compared to primates and cetaceans. African elephants are classed as vulnerable, while the Asian elephant is classed as endangered. Elephants are threatened by poaching for the ivory trade, habitat destruction and conflicts with local people. They are highly recognisable and have been featured in art, folklore, religion, literature and popular culture.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1860:
Led by Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi (pictured), the volunteer Expedition of the Thousand set sail from Genoa on a campaign to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_of_the_Thousand
1904:
Pitcher Cy Young of the Boston Americans threw the first perfect game in the modern era of professional baseball. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young
1940:
World War II: A squad of 250 Norwegian volunteers in Hegra Fortress finally surrendered to a vastly superior Nazi force after a 25-day siege. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hegra_Fortress
1961:
Project Mercury: Aboard the American spacecraft Freedom 7, Alan Shepard made a sub-orbital flight, becoming the second person to travel into outer space. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shepard
1980:
The British Special Air Service stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, six days after Iranian Arab separatists had seized it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Embassy_siege
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
Stakhanovite: An extremely productive or hard-working worker, especially in the former USSR, who may earn special rewards; a workaholic. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Stakhanovite
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Sin is in itself separation from the good, but despair over sin is separation a second time. --Søren Kierkegaard https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard
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