Do Elephants Kill Other Animals?

Elephants are the largest land mammals and among the strongest. Despite their size, they are highly social and often gentle. So do these giants ever kill other animals?

Elephants are herbivores, so they never kill animals for food. They do sometimes kill other animals, and people, when they feel threatened, when protecting their calves, or when bulls are in musth.

Let's take a closer look.

Are Elephants Predators Or Prey?

Healthy adult elephants are neither. They don't hunt, and apart from people, healthy adults have no real natural threats, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

Calves are a different story. Hyenas, lions, leopards and crocodiles can hunt them.

Newborn calves weigh about 110 to 264 pounds (50 to 120 kg) and stand 26 to 42 inches (66 to 107 cm) tall. They nurse often, and by two to three years old they no longer need to nurse.

Mothers guard their calves closely, and other females in the herd help protect them.

The San Diego Zoo puts the median lifespan of elephants at 38 to 47 years, though some live much longer.

What Are The Predators Of Elephants?

Humans are the biggest threat to elephants. Poaching for ivory is a cause of population decline in all elephants.

Ivory has been used for carvings, jewelry and ornaments. In parts of Asia, elephants are also killed for their skin and meat. Killing elephants is illegal in most countries, but poaching continues.

Do Hyenas Hunt Elephants?

Hyenas are skilled hunters, but most of their prey is small to medium-sized. They cannot kill a healthy adult elephant.

Hyenas, like lions, target calves, especially ones separated from the herd.

Are Elephants Endangered?

Three types of elephants are usually recognized: the African savanna elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant.

The IUCN lists Asian and African savanna elephants as Endangered. African forest elephants are Critically Endangered.

What Is Causing Elephant Populations To Decline?

Habitat loss is a major threat. Elephants need large areas to find enough food and water, and farms and settlements keep shrinking that space.

Poaching is another major cause. Conflict with people, when elephants raid crops, also leads to elephants being killed.

Do Elephants Attack Or Kill Other Animals?

Elephants are generally peaceful, but they can be very dangerous when threatened. Mothers defending calves will charge predators, and elephants have been filmed killing crocodiles and other animals that came too close.

Adult male elephants (bulls) also go through musth, a period of raised testosterone and heightened aggression that can last from days to months. Bulls in musth can be dangerous to people and other animals.

Check out what this elephant did to a crocodile:

How Do Elephants Protect Themselves From Predators?

An adult elephant's sheer size stops most predators from trying. When threatened, elephants defend themselves in several ways:

• They charge at intruders. African bush elephants can reach up to about 24 km/h (15 mph) when running, according to Animal Diversity Web.
• They trumpet loudly and flare their ears as a warning.
• Herds bunch together with calves in the middle.

Elephants also use their tusks to fight. Tusks are used for digging and stripping bark too, and among males they help show dominance.

Final Thoughts

Healthy adult elephants have no natural predators apart from people. Calves can fall prey to lions, hyenas, leopards and crocodiles.

Elephants don't hunt, but they will kill when threatened or when protecting their young, and bulls in musth can be especially aggressive. All three elephant types are endangered, with African forest elephants critically endangered.

Sources

• Elephant, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
• Loxodonta africana (African bush elephant), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan