What Is an Elephant?

As the world's largest land animals, elephants inspire awe in all of us - an awe that has led to myths of might and memory. Despite its immense strength, however, the elephant is a timid creature that uses its power only to defend itself against predators. Kids will learn many facts about these gentle pachyderms, including: - the social structure of elephants, in which the female is the leader - the animal's many, dexterous uses for its trunk - the history of the elephant's even larger ancestors, including woolly mammoths - the dangers that poaching, loss of habitat, and the ivory trade pose to the elephant's future