African Elephant - Zimbabwe

Referred to as Rhodesia during British colonial rule, Zimbabwe derives its name from a complex of stone ruins near the present town of Nyanda. Parts of this fortress-settlement date back 1,300 years. This was the center of an inland empire ruled by the Karanga people.

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Loxondonta africana - The African elephant is the larger of the two recognized species, the other being the Indian elephant. Elephants are the largest terrestrial animals. Despite their great weight, 3 to 7 metric tonnes, elephants walk in a tiptoe fashion. The foot is supported from behind by a fibrous-fatty cushion and enclosed in a structure resembling a hoof. The legs are placed directly under the body for additional support as opposed towards the side. A mature bull elephant can weigh between 4,700 to 6,000 kilograms.

Bateleur Eagle - Zimbabwe

 

Terathopius ecaudatus - The bateleur is a medium-sized eagle. An average adult grows to lengths of 65 centimeters and has a wingspan of 186 centimeters. One of the most notable features is the short tail. The legs of the bateleur eagle extend beyond the tail when the bird is in flight. Breeding pairs stay together for life and are known to use the same nesting site for several seasons. Unattached juveniles or adults will assist breeding couples in taking care of new nests and hatchlings.

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The Shona people are the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe. They founded the Kingdom of Zimbabwe centered between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers; the kingdom existed from 1220 to 1450. The Mutapa Kingdom was an extension of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe and soon eclipsed the Zimbabwe Kingdom. It reigned from 1430 to 1760 and included most of present day Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The constant internal strife weakened the kingdom and it eventually became a client state of Portugal.

African and Asian Elephant Comparison

Elephantidae is the only extant family in the Proboscidea order and contains the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. The forest elephant was considered a subspecies of the bush elephant, but DNA analysis has shown enough differences to support classifying them as separate species. Differences between the Asian and African elephant are broader in scope than those of the bush and forest elephant. The highest point on the Asian variety is the back; the African elephant is tallest at the shoulders. The stomach of the Asian elephant is straight or sags slightly in the middle; the African elephant’s stomach slopes down towards the hind legs. The ears of an Asian elephant are small and do not cover the neck area; the ears of an African elephant are large and cover the neck. The number ribs, toes, and trunk fingers are also different for each species.