Tione likes wild animals. Today, Tione's school is visiting Liwonde National Park.

It is Tione's first chance to see an elephant in real life.

Across the river, elephants are having fun.

"Elephants are the largest animals on earth. They can weigh up to 7500 kilograms," the game ranger started explaining.

Just then, one elephant swept a whole bunch of grass using its trunk.

"One elephant can eat 113 kilos of food in a day," the game ranger said.

"Wow! That is food for over a hundred people per day," exclaimed Tione.

Another elephant dipped its trunk into the water.

"How much water can it drink per day?" asked Tione.

"Elephants can drink up to 200 litres per day," replied the game ranger.

Tione wondered, "Is it not drinking through the nose?"

"No," explained the guide. "They only use the trunk to draw water, which they pump into their mouths."

"The elephant's trunk is multipurpose. It can be a nose, a hand or an extra foot.

It can be a signaling device, a digging device, a water siphon, and many more."

"With that size, it cannot run against me," shouted Tione.

"Ooh no! Elephants can instantly reach 40km per hour. Can you?" asked the game ranger.

"No!" retorted Tione in disbelief.

The game ranger said, "Elephants are very intelligent and have a strong memory.

They can communicate with each other over 10km."

"That means elephants are super monsters!" Tione said

The game ranger replied, "No, they have limitations also. For example, they are the only mammals that cannot jump.

They reproduce very slowly and give birth once in every 2-4 years."

"Why are they all dirty with mud?" asked Tione.

"They deliberately dip into mud to protect their skin from sunburn," explained the game ranger.

Tione thought about all the new things he learned about elephants.