How Much Does An Elephant Cost? Explained!

Additionally, some states have laws limiting the ownership of elephants, which could impact the overall cost. These include the age of the animal, its health and condition, and the type of elephant you’re looking for. Older elephants tend to be more expensive, and healthy animals will usually cost more than those that are injured or ill. Additionally, African elephants are typically more expensive than Asian elephants. In addition, most species of elephants are currently endangered due to the treacherous ivory trade as well as habitation destruction.

In the UK it is utterly illegal to keep elephants as pets in any capacity. In the United States this is also true unless you own special grounds, such as an animal shelter or conservation center, have a zoo or own a circus. Conversely, in Asia and Africa elephants are often kept and used for labor or as pets since the keeping of animals is far less regulated in places like India and Africa. In a survey of 4,500 captive elephants worldwide, among African elephants, zoo-born females live an average of 16.9 years in zoos, while those in the wild make it to 56. Asian elephants, the more endangered of the two species, live 18.9 years in captivity and 41.7 in the wild. The initial purchase price of an elephant depends on the type of elephant you’re looking for and the seller’s asking price.

What is a group of elephants called?

To preserve all animals by building awareness through contact and education in partnership with our animal ambassadors. Read about the stark contrast between the life of a wild and captive elephant. An elephant How to buy an elephant will urinate approximately 13 gallons (50 liters) throughout the day, voiding 3 gallons (10 liters) each time they urinate. The average weight for an elephant heart is about 27 to 46 pounds (12-21 kg.).

• There have been a few documented sales of elephants over the last ten years, even though people have protested.
• India has a long history of elephant domestication and elephants displaced from the wild usually end up in captivity.
• All three types—Asian, African forest, and African savannah—are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List.
• 100% of net proceeds from your purchase of Kiki and Tembo go to organizations that help aid in fighting the poaching crisis and also provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants.
• Often when in captivity elephants will do well on a diet of branches, hay, leaves, grass, fruits and vegetables, often with nutritional supplements added.

Take a journey along a mythical waterway through four continents to discover how wildlife, plants and people interact. River’s Edge is the Saint Louis Zoo’s first immersion exhibit—a lushly planted naturalistic environment showcasing multiple species from around the world. Across the world, ivory (also known as “white gold”) is bought as a way to prove wealth and social status and is used in luxury or ornamental items. Many zoos have
discontinued their elephant exhibitions because the cost of creating and
maintaining such environments is too steep. The prices of the elephants ranged from $13,500 to $41,000 depending on their age.

How many species of elephant exist?

Elephants also have huge ears which they use to lower their temperature. The ears of the Asian elephant are much smaller than the African elephant’s ears and resemble the subcontinent of India in shape. Elephants rely on their social order to
prevent stress and maintain their mental health. The New York Times has reported that there is an
alarmingly high number of stillbirths and reproductive disorders in pregnant
captive elephants that do not appear at all in wild elephants. Even most zoos, including biggies like the
Bronx Zoo, have decided that it is not cost-effective nor beneficial to the
animals to purchase an elephant.

It’s important to do your due diligence to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable seller. An elephant is a large mammal found in various parts of the world, including Africa and Asia. Elephants are highly intelligent animals, capable of forming strong social bonds, and they have been revered for centuries as symbols of wisdom and power. Despite their impressive size and strength, these animals are often kept as pets, with some owners even training them to perform tricks or participate in shows.

Protect Elephant Habitat

Both African forest elephants and Asian elephants occur on only about 10 percent of their historical range. All three types—Asian, African forest, and African savannah—are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. WCS has the strategies and programs in place to help them reclaim their former range. Elephants’ eyes are small; because of the position and size of the head and neck, they have limited peripheral vision. Reportedly elephants have poor eyesight with a range of only 25 ft. After several months, the calf begins to eat grass and foliage.

Mali’s desert elephants in Africa migrate almost 300 miles in a year, as far as 35 miles in a day, all in pursuit of water. Smaller than the African Savanna elephant, the Forest elephant weighs around 5,950 lbs (2.7 tons/2,743 kilograms) and stands up to 8.2 ft. (2.5 meters) at the shoulder. The African Forest elephant is classified as an Endangered Species.

Adopt An Elephant Calf

But before you consider getting an elephant as a pet, it’s important to understand what’s involved and how much it might cost. Veterinary outfits for elephants are often non-profit and a very useful resource for those whom are interested in learning more about elephant care. Before taking your elephant to a veterinary clinic you should make sure that the animal, if male, is not in one of it’s hostile cycles, called musth.

If a baby elephant complains, the entire family will rumble and go over to touch and caress it. Elephants express grief, joy, compassion, self-awareness, altruism, and play. Elephants pay homage to the bones of their dead, gently touching the skulls and tusks with their trunks and feet. When an elephant walks past a place where a loved one has died, he/she will stop, offering a silent pause that can last several minutes. Elephants have a highly developed brain, the largest of all the land mammals.

Males, known as bulls, leave the family unit between the ages of and may lead solitary lives or live temporarily in a smaller herd with other young bulls. So much so, it is not really possible for an average individual to swing. The cost of feeding an elephant alone
will cost you $70,000 a year, more than most will spend on their mortgage. But
the real hindrance to purchasing an elephant isn’t the price, it’s being able
to provide the social interaction and vast environment that will keep the
elephant both physically and mentally sound. Your generous gift fuels critical conservation worldwide and offers hope to the world’s most extraordinary wildlife, including endangered African elephants.

African elephants don’t stay within one country as a migratory species, but instead travel huge distances across 37 different African countries known as range states. It has become know that elephants have a lot
of the same psychological conditions as humans. Elephants are known to have
self-recognition, social awareness, and language which leaves them susceptible
to the same forms of depression that humans develop in isolation.

Why WCS?

The estimated cost of purchasing an elephant ranges from $2,500 to $50,000, depending on the type of elephant and the seller’s asking price. Feeding an elephant can cost between $200 and $800 per month, while veterinary care can range from a few hundred dollars for routine checkups to thousands of dollars for more serious medical issues. Buying an elephant can be an exciting experience, but it’s important to understand the financial implications of such a commitment. Before making a purchase, it’s important to research the types of elephants available, where to find them, and the factors that can affect the price. Additionally, it’s important to factor in the cost of providing proper care and housing, as well as any legal limitations in your area.