TEETH AND TUSKS

S An elephant has 26 teeth, including its tusks, which are actually long incisors. It loses its molars six times in its life to make way for bigger ones.

S The tusks are used to fight off predators, to dig for water in a dry riverbed and to protect the sensitive trunk. Tusks are made of valuable ivory, which is why elephants are killed by poachers.

S African elephant tusks are about 2m long and can weigh about 73kg. No two elephants have tusks that look the same and you can tell how old an elephant is by studying its tusks.

S An elephant can be either right- or left-tusked, just like we are right- or left-handed. The dominant tusk is usually more worn. S The largest tusks ever found were 3,5m long and weighed 120kg each.