Elephants: Start Small, Grow Up Larger Than Life
Although they someday grow up to be the largest living land animals on earth, Elephants are born small just like the rest of us. Okay, maybe not as small as the rest of us, but at 230 lbs (105 kg), baby elephant calves are a mere 1/10th the over 23,000 lbs (11,000 kg) they can grow up to be. In addition to being the largest land animal, elephants also have the longest gestation period (22 months!) and one of the longest life expectancies (50 to 70 years). Elephants are considered by many Asian cultures to be a symbol of wisdom, and despite their somewhat long process of development (which is actually common with most intelligent species; like humans), they earn this status. After being raised under the care of their entire herd, baby elephants grow up to show intelligence and behaviors associated with grief, making music, art, altruism, all mothering, play, use of tools,compassion, advanced communication, and self-awareness.
