The African Elephant The elephant is the largest of all land mammals. There are two subspecies of the African elephant, the savannah elephant and the smaller forest elephant which lives in the equatorial forests of Central and West Africa. Where ranges of the savannah and forest overlap hybridisation is common. At Knowsley we maintain the savannah elephant. In the wild, African elephants face several threats: poaching for ivory, loss of habitat and man/elephant conflict. The demand for ivory had been the greatest reason for the decline. During the 1970?s and 1980?s the population was reduced from 3million to less than one million due to poaching for ivory. The future of the African Elephant in many parts of its range remains uncertain With its present structure Knowsley's herd has a huge potential for increasing the captive population of this wonderful species. We presently have three breeding females which should hopefully produce calves every four years. Our herd of 4 cows, 2 juvenile females and one bull have the opportunity to graze in a large grass paddock and enjoy natural mud wallows, allowing the display of natural behaviours. Our elephants at Knowsley Safari Park are; Nissim - Our young bull elephant. Nissim is easily identified as he has a broken tusk. He is a captive born elephant born at Ramat-Gan in Isreal in 1994. Although he has had a couple of musth periods he has yet to sire any calves. Buta - Buta is the matriach of the herd being the oldest and largest of the cows. She was born in Zimbabwe in 1984 and brought to Windsor safari park in 1988 and then to Knowsley Safari Park in 1993. Buta can be identified by her sunken eyes and folded left ear. Shaba - Wild born in Zimbawe in 1986 she was taken to Windsor safari park in 1988 and then on to Knowsley safari park in 1993. Shaba is a very friendly and placid elephant and is mother to one of our younger elephants Ashanti. Shaba can be identified easily as she only has a right tusk. Juba - wild born in Zimbabwe in 1987 and brought to Windsor in 1990 and then to Knowsley safari park in 1993. Juba is the most independant of the cows here at Knowsley and is a very protective "aunt" to the young elephants. Tana (Tots) - Wild born in Zimbabwe in 1988 and transferred to Knowsley form Windsor in 1993. Tana, called Tots by the keepers, is the most docile elephant in the herd and mother to Nala. Ashanti - Captive born at Knowsley Safari Park 10th January 2003. Ashanti's mother is Shaba and her father is Kruger a previous bull who has since moved to another collection. Ashanti is very playful and always looking for attention. Ashanti is the smallest elephant in the herd. Nala - Captive born at Knowsley Safari Park 5th April 2003. Nala's mum is Tana and her father is Kruger who is now at another collection. Nala is very mishievous and although younger is now slightly bigger than her playmate and half sister Ashanti.

Click here to adopt this species