Last Updated on April 20, 2024 by Amin Tawar
Elephant Weight Explained
Elephants are the largest terrestrial creatures on the planet. The typical weight of an elephant ranges from 4,500 to 11,000 pounds. However, many of us wonder what could be the exact size of an elephant. Very large!
On average, Asian elephants, which are smaller than African elephants, may weigh around 5,000 and 11,000 pounds (2,268 and 4,989 kilograms).
The size of an elephant is determined by which of the three elephant species it really is. Conversely, the heaviest elephant ever recorded weighed 24,000 pounds, indicating that in extremely rare circumstances, they may weigh remarkable amounts.
Overall, the average size of an elephant varies between 3800 to 15200 pounds with a height of around 6 ft 10 inches (209 cm) to 11 ft (336 cm).
African Bush Elephant Weight
The African bush elephant is the biggest and heaviest land mammal on the planet, with an adult bull’s highest recorded shoulder height of 3.96 m (13.0 ft) and an estimated weight of up to 10.4 t. (11.5 short tons). These elephant species are the largest of all elephant species.
Overall, Males are around 3.20 m (10.5 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 6.0 t (6.6 short tonnes/12000 lbs), while females are about 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in) tall at the shoulder and weigh 3.0 t (3.3 short tonnes/6000 lbs). Typically, male African bush elephants are 23% bigger than their female counterparts.
| Elephant | Female Weight | Male Weight |
| African Bush Elephant | 2,160–3,232 kg (4,762–7,125 lb) | 4,700–6,048 kg (10,362–13,334 lb) |
Asian Elephant Weight
The Asian elephant often known as the Asiatic elephant, is the genus Elephas’ only remaining species. The Asian elephant is Asia’s largest living land mammal. However, Asian elephants are often smaller than African bush elephants.
When sufficiently matured, male Asiatic elephants stand around 2.75 m (9.0 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 4 t (4.4 short tonnes/8000 lbs), while females stand about 2.40 m (7.9 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 2.7 t (3.0 short tonnes/5400 lbs).
Asian elephants have less severe sexual dimorphism in body size than African bush elephants, with bulls standing 15% bigger than females.
In 1924, the Maharajah of Susang shot the largest male Asiatic elephant ever recorded, in the Garo Hills of Assam, India. It weighed an estimated 7 t (7.7 short tonnes/14000 lbs), stood 3.43 m (11.3 ft) tall at the shoulder, and was 8.06 m (26.4 ft) long from head to tail. Nevertheless, many Giant individuals as tall as 3.7 m (12 ft) have been reported.
| Elephant | Female Weight | Male Weight |
| Asian Elephant | 3.0 short tonnes/5400 lbs | 4.4 short tonnes/8000 lbs |
African Forest Elephant Weight
One of the living African elephant species is the African forest elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis. It is endemic to West African wet forests and the Congo Basin.
It is the smallest of the extant elephant species, with the fewest numbers, and is classified as endangered.
These Elephants begin as newborns weighing 200 pounds and grow to weigh 1-3 tonnes (4,400 to 8,800lb) with a shoulder height of 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). Conversely, their weight is comparable to a minivan which weighs 4,600 lbs!
In specifics, a male African elephant species can reach a shoulder height of 2.4 to 3.0 m (7 ft 10 in – 9 ft 10 in) while Females are smaller at about 1.8 to 2.4 m (5 ft 11 in – 7 ft 10 in) tall at the shoulder. Both can reach a weight of 2–4 t/4000-8000 lbs (2.2–4.4 short tons).
| Elephant | Female Weight | Male Weight |
| Asian Elephant | 2–4 t/4000-8000 lbs | 2–4 t/4000-8000 lbs |
Read Elephant Size Details & Body Parts Size Details Here
Indian Elephant Weight
Elephas maximus indicus, the Indian elephant, is generally smaller than African elephants and has the highest body point on the head.
Indian elephants stand between 2 and 3.2 m (6.6 and 10.5 ft) tall and weigh between 2,000 and 5,000 kg (4,400 and 11,000 lb).
The tallest Indian elephant stood 3.43 metres (11.3 feet) tall at the shoulder. Even a newborn could be enormous, weighing up to several hundred pounds.
Conversely, there’s very little information present about sexual dimorphism in these subspecies. However, it has been observed that female Indian elephants are smaller than their male counterparts.
Sri Lankan Elephant Weight
The Sri Lankan elephant, Elephas maximus Maximus, is one of three Asian elephant subspecies, Elephas maximus.
They are the biggest subspecies, standing between 2 and 3.5 m (6.6 and 11.5 ft) tall and weighing between 2,000 and 5,500 kg (4,400 and 12,100 lb).
Adults may reach a height of 11.5 feet, which is almost double the height of an ordinary human.
Elephant males and females typically have significant size differences. Males are generally 20-30% taller and weigh about twice as much as females of equivalent age.
Specifically, Their shoulder height is between 6 and 11 ft. They weigh between 4,000 and 12,000 lb.
Elephant Weight Size Chart
| Species | Weight | Height |
| African bush elephant | Male: 10,000 to 14,000 lb (6.6 to 7.5 short tons)Female: 6600 lb (3.3 short tonnes) | Male height: 10.5 ft (3.20 m) Female height: 8 ft 6 in (2.60 m) |
| Asian elephant | Male: 8800 lb (4.4 short tonnes)Female: 6000 lb (3.0 short tonnes). | Male height: 9.0 ft (2.75 m) Female height: 7.9 ft (2.40 m) |
| African elephant | 4400 to 8800 Lb (2.2–4.4 short tons) | Male height: 7 ft 10 in – 9 ft 10 in (2.4 to 3.0 m ). Female height: 5 ft 11 in – 7 ft 10 in (1.8 to 2.4 m) |
| Indian elephant | 4,400 and 11,000 lb (2,000 and 5,000 kg) | 6.6 and 10.5 ft (2 and 3.2 m) |
| Sri Lankan elephant | 4,400 and 12,100 lb (2,000 and 5,500 kg) | 6.6 and 11.5 ft (2 and 3.5 m) |
Baby Elephant Weight
Elephants average roughly 200 pounds at birth and grow to be 8,000-15,000 pounds over the following 20 years.
They could grow to be 10 to 13 feet tall in their adulthood however, elephant newborns can weigh as little as 150 pounds or as much as 360 pounds. Furthermore, the pregnancy of an elephant lasts over two years (18 to 22 months). This longer period allows their newborn calves, the biggest infant animals on land, to mature adequately.
On Average, a newborn elephant stands around 3 feet tall and weighs about 200-300 pounds.
African elephant calves can weigh up to 364 pounds at birth. To understand the growth of baby elephants in more detail, let us look at the chart below.
| Elephant Age | Weight Pounds | Weight Kilograms |
| Newborn | 200-300 lbs | 91-136 kg |
| 6 Months | 560-840 lbs | 254-381 kg |
| 1 Year | 930-1,395 lbs | 422-633 kg |
| Adult Male | 5,000-15,000 lbs | 2,300-6,400 kg |
| Adult Female | 6,000-8,000 lbs | 2,800-3,700 kg |
How Much Can An Elephant Lift?
The elephant’s trunk, which it uses for touching, grabbing, holding, and smelling, is made up of the upper lip and nose.
A fully developed trunk has a maximum length of two meters and is capable of supporting 350 kilos of weight.
However, an elephant’s power and capacity to lift are determined by its size, fitness, and health. When standing on two legs, an elephant can lift around 10% of its own weight, or 500–600 kg for a fully grown elephant.
Additionally, they can also lift up to 50% of their own weight while they are lying down, which is equivalent to around 2-3 tonnes for an adult elephant.
How Much Can An Elephant Pull?
The elephant’s legs have exceptionally strong muscles. They have a lot of leverage to push and pull objects since their legs make up around 40% of their overall weight.
Elephants that are adults have powerful legs that really can sustain their whole body weight, allowing them to lift things that weigh around 50% of their weight, which is around 2-3 tonnes. Some species of elephants like African bush elephants occasionally can pull loads of up to 18,000 pounds.
Elephant Vs Hippo Weight Comparison
Among all terrestrial animals that have ever lived on Earth, elephants, and hippopotamuses are among the biggest.
Both the hippo and the elephant are enormous species in terms of size. The hippo weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds and may reach a shoulder height of nearly 5 feet. They may also be longer than 15 feet.
While the elephant may grow to a height of 12 feet, a weight of between 6,000 and 12,000 pounds, and a length of up to 21 feet.
It is clear from side-by-side comparisons that the elephant is far larger than the hippo. As we know, Elephants typically weigh between 6,000 and 12,000 pounds. A hippo weighs, on average, between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds. Therefore, It is obvious that even the smallest elephant will weigh more than the biggest hippo.
| Size | Elephant | Hippo |
| Weight | 4,500 to 14000 pounds | 3,000 and 4,000 pounds |
| Height | Length: 18 to 24 feet Height: 10 to 13 feet | Length: 15 feetHeight: 5 feet |
Rhino Vs Elephant Weight Comparison
The elephant and rhinoceros are the two biggest land animals, with the former reaching weights of up to 15,000 lbs. and the latter reaching 7,900 lbs.
Although rhinos are only about half as tall as elephants at 4 to 6 feet, elephants may grow to heights of 10 to 12 feet.
Side-by-side comparisons show that the elephant is considerably bigger than the rhino. They are significantly larger and heavier.
The average adult male elephant stands 3.2 metres (10.8 feet) tall and weighs around 6 tonnes (12,228 pounds). However, the male rhino seems diminutive in comparison with its size, standing 1.8 metres (6 feet) tall and weighing 2,300 kg (5,100 pounds).
| Size | Elephant | Rhino |
| Weight | 4,500 to 14000 pounds | 7,900 lbs |
| Height | Length: 18 to 24 feet Height: 10 to 13 feet | Length: 11–15 ft Height: 5.9–6.6 ft |
Giraffe Vs Elephant Weight Comparison
Elephants weigh up to 12,000 pounds compared to a giraffe’s little more than 4,000 pounds, making them heavier animals than giraffes.
Despite the fact that they are both incredibly enormous animals, the elephant is significantly much bigger.
The biggest elephants may weigh up to 15000 pounds, making them the largest terrestrial mammals. In specifics, the average adult male elephant stands 3.2 metres (10.8 feet) tall and weighs around 6 tonnes (12,228 pounds).
However, the average weight is 4,200 pounds (1,900 kg) for an adult giraffe. Therefore, we can conclude that Elephants are heavier than giraffes, but giraffes are taller than elephants.
| Size | Elephant | Giraffe |
| Weight | 4,500 to 14000 pounds | 4,200 pounds |
| Height | Length: 18 to 24 feet Height: 10 to 13 feet tall | 18 feet tall |
Whale Vs Elephant Weight Comparison
Elephants and blue whales are two of the most massive animals to ever inhabit our planet. Even though elephants are enormous, the blue whale weighs more than any elephant on average, therefore despite the elephant’s size, it is incomparable to the weight of whales.
Elephants can weigh up to 20000 pounds or 2 to 8 tonnes, depending on the species, whereas blue whales typically weigh 100 tonnes or more.
When it comes to size, the blue whale is unmatched by any other animal. In specifics, the average adult male elephant stands 3.2 meters (10.8 feet) tall and weighs around 6 tonnes (12,228 pounds). However, the average weight is 100-110 tons for an adult whale with a length of about 80-100 feet.
Therefore, we can easily conclude that An elephant is diminutive in size compared to whales.
| Size | Elephant | Whale |
| Weight | 4,500 to 14000 pounds | 100 to 110 tons |
| Height | Length: 18-24 feet Height: 10-13 feet tall | Length: 80-100 feetHeight: 15 feet tall |
Conclusion
And that was everything you need to know about the weight of Elephants. I hope this article was informative enough and your queries were answered.
Thank You For Reading!
Related Articles You May Like