Using the trunk & face to ID African elephants

How to Identify African Elephants

How to sex African elephants

How to age African elephants

Using tusk characteristics to ID African elephants

Using ear notches & tears to ID African elephants

Using ear lobe size & shape to ID African elephants

Using trunk & face to ID African elephants

Using body characteristics to ID African elephants

Using the tail to ID African elephants

All elephants have a trunk and a face, yet some individual carry unique characteristics that set them apart. Sadly, some of these differences are shaped by human impact.

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Using the trunk & face to ID African elephants

Elephants whose trunks are caught in a snare frequently lose a portion of their trunks. This is an example of a "chopped trunk". Others may have a "slit cut trunk" from spear or arrow wounds.

If elephants are fortunate enough to have the snare removed by a veterinarian, the trunk still may show signs of damage, or "other trunk injury"

The herpes virus produces wart-like bumps on the trunk.

Wrinkled skin on the forehead is typical of mountain elephants in Kenya. Many elephants in the Mara have "wrinkled foreheads", perhaps because they originate from the Mau Forest.

Explore The Elephant Ethogram