This is an animal that is rarer than the giant panda?

Today is the 12th World Elephant Day. Elephants are called "forest farmers" and "ecological engineers". The activities of Asian elephants have a profound impact on the plant communities in the forest, which in turn affects almost all forest species.

In the long history of the earth, Proboscidea has evolved into many members, but in such a long time, their evolutionary direction is generally the same, most of them have a large body, long trunks and tusks. Outside of Proboscidea, few animals have evolved similar forms. If Proboscidea is likened to a large family, then it can be understood that the members of this family have adhered to their own traditions since ancient times, and have almost never been imitated by people outside the family.

Unfortunately, today, most Proboscidea species have become extinct. Africa is the origin of Proboscidea, and the Asian elephant is the only surviving Proboscidea species outside of Africa.

Reviewer: Huang Chengming, Researcher, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences