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The word "elephant" has its origins in the Greek, meaning "ivory" or "elephant". Elephants are mammals and the largest land animals alive today. There are three living species of elephants: the African Bush Elephant, the African Forest Elephant (until recently known collectively as the African Elephant), and the Asian Elephant (also known as the Indian Elephant) On a tremendous scale elephants require specialized care scale. From their feed to their skin care to their enormous need for water, only trained personnel should care for elephants. Elephant care is highly done to ensure that these animals receive the proper attention they need for optimal health. Elephant need plenty of water, so provide them up to 200 liters a day. In hot temperatures supply more water. Measure the water consumption, and make sure they are taking in extra water when it's hot. Elephants are herbivores, spending 16 hours a day collecting plant food. Their diet is at least 50% grasses, supplemented with leaves, bamboo, twigs, bark, roots, and small amounts of fruits, seeds and flowers. Because elephants only digest 40% of what they eat, they have to make up for their digestive system's lack of efficiency in volume. An adult elephant can consume 140–270 kg (300–600 lb) of food a day. 60% of that food leaves the elephant's body undigested. Being a mammal its gestation period is 22 months, the longest of any land animal. At birth it is common for an elephant calf to weigh 120 kilograms (265 lb). An elephant may live as long as 70 years, sometimes longer. Elephant's skin should be clean each day. Include a cleaning and inspection of the ears, tusk pockets, hind legs, stomach and the skin surrounding the eyes. Bonding with your elephant will help you to know your elephant better. By rubbing his trunk, ears, legs and flanks you can begin to bond with him. Just make sure your elephant is ready to bond so you don’t get kicked or stomped on. Whenever he wants to play, play with him. Smiling and flipping his trunk on his head are signs of play, as is kneeling down towards you and wagging his head. As Elephants are huge in size and they eat and drink a lot, extra care has to be taken to keep them happy. Then only you can make him your pet and would love to say that “I have the biggest pet in the world”
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