The African elephant is the bulkiest and heaviest of all land mammals. The heaviest recorded was just over 6500kg. The avg male weighs in at 5750kg and the female at 3800kg. The stand about 2.8m at the shoulder and can live to around 70 years of age. Elephant herds are commanded by a matriarch. The large herds you see are made up of females and young of varying ages and genders. As the bulls come of age they leave or are evicted and go to join bachelor herds. The males only join the female led herd when the females are in season.