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'''Elephants''' are two species of large land mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae, the only extant family belonging to the order Proboscidea. The two elephant species currently recognized by scientists are the African elephant (''Loxodonta africana'') and the Asian elephant (''Elephas maximus''). Centuries of hunting elephants for their ivory has reduced the population of these animals. Renewed efforts at stewardship have caused a population boom, with the number of elephants in Africa alone tripling in the last decade.

'''Elephants''' are two species of large land mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae, the only extant family belonging to the order Proboscidea. The two elephant species currently recognized by scientists are the African elephant (''Loxodonta africana'') and the Asian elephant (''Elephas maximus''). Centuries of hunting elephants for their ivory has reduced the population of these animals. Renewed efforts at stewardship have caused a population increase in Africa over the past nineteen years.  <ref>IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group (2013).  [http://www.elephantdatabase.org/preview_report/2013_africa/Loxodonta_africana/2012/Africa "2012 continental totals"].  ''2013 Provisional African Elephant Status Report''.  Retrieved from Elephant Database on October 17, 2014.</ref>

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