The official title of the largest land animal in the world belongs to the elephant, more specifically, the African elephant. Elephants are some of the deadliest animals, which increases the danger of human-elephant interactions. Increased interactions between humans and elephants lead to increased deaths of both humans and elephants. Surprisingly, these animals are socially adapted. The chest is used not only for eating and drinking; it is used for socializing. They are complex animals that live in large family herds. Females stay with the family for life while males only stay for about fifteen years (Elephant Protection 1). Elephants possess a great memory and forget what they learn only occasionally and rarely, giving rise to the saying “an elephant never forgets” (Maloiy 178c). Due to shortened lifespans and increased mortality rates, elephants may not survive long. Because of their extremely expensive and profitable incisors and tusks, they are murdered for the wealth they carry. This, combined with reductions in lifespan due to harmful treatment and brutal practices, reduces the lifespan of the African elephant from fifty-six to sixteen years and the Asian elephant from forty-two to nineteen years (Elephant Protection 1). Elephants may follow their ancestors to their deaths, statistics show. Of the group of mammals called proboscideans, which once included 350 species, elephants are the only survivors. Wildlife experts classify elephants as endangered, meaning the animals require human protection to survive. As elephant populations have declined dramatically in recent years and are listed as endangered, … center of paper … ely Endangered.” Blog post. ABC News. ABC News Network, June 5, 2013. Web. March 13, 2014. Maloiy, G. “Elephant”. World book encyclopedia. vol. 6.Chicago:1985. pp. 178-180“Using science to protect elephants.” International Fund for Animal Welfare. International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2014. Web. 2 April 2014. .Vaughan, Adam. “African elephant numbers “could decline by a fifth” due to poaching.” Blog post. Guardian News. Media Limited, 2 December 2013. Web. 1 April 2014. “Why are elephants in danger?” Ecological problems. Google, 23 September 2010. Web. 8 April. 2014.