Male elephants are much larger than female elephants. Reaching a height of almost four meters, they are the two largest land animals after giraffes. They also weigh five to six tons, making them the heaviest of all land animals. Male African elephants usually leave their herds when they are around twelve years old. They are then large enough to find their own food and defend themselves, and move around the country with other males or alone, in search of another herd. Fun facts Elephants recognize their own reflection. They are among the very few animals capable of doing so.