African elephants, Amboseli National Park, Kenya

© Susan Portnoy/Shutterstoc

Amboseli National Park

African elephants, like those shown here, are the largest living land animals, with bull elephants standing four metres tall at the shoulder. Their distinctive trunks and big ears make them one of the first animals every child can recognise. Adults marvel at the close family bonds they create and the way a herd rallies to protect its members, grieving when one dies. They form a strong, social community over their life span of about 60 to 75 years.

The elephant family pictured here lives in Amboseli National Park in Kenya, which is a well-known destination for wildlife enthusiasts. At 39,206 hectares, the park is home to more than 1,500 African elephants and the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, which has studied, observed and protected African elephants for 50 years. Much more than a safari destination, the park provides elephants with a safe, happy future in the wild.