Over 90 illustrations. This volume explores the ancient lineage of the elephant - extending back some 60 million years - and examines the traits and characteristics of both Asian and African elephants as they exist in the wild today. Added to descriptions of their lives and social structures are fascinating details of their behavior, including feeding, bathing dusting, mating, and caring for the young. There are also discussions of the role of the elephant matriarch in the herd's hierarchy, and the well-known myth of the elephant graveyard. Massive bulls, nuturing females, and playful babies are all captured in the full range of their activities by over 90 full-color photographs which accompany the informative and entertaining text