The ears provide a large surface for body heat to escape from. Unfortunately, elephants' great ivory tusks are so valuable that hunters have killed them in huge numbers. There are now less than half a million elephants altogether in Africa. A family of African elephants. African elephants are noticeably larger than Asian elephants and their ears and tusks are larger, too.
Hippos spend much of their time wallowing in shallow water and mud.
Rhinos and hippos Rhinoceroses are big, tough-skinned animals that live in Africa and southern Asia. Right in the middle of their heads, they have a horn or two made of compacted hair. Rhino horn is believed by some people to have magical properties. As a result, thousands of rhinos have been slaughtered for their horns and they are now in danger of becoming extinct. Hippopotamuses are huge, pig-like creatures that live in Africa.