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Elephants are large mammals of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea, characterized by their long trunks, massive bodies, and ivory tusks. They are native to Africa and parts of Asia, where they inhabit a variety of habitats including savannas, forests, and deserts. Elephants are herbivores, feeding on a diet of grasses, leaves, bamboo, bark, and fruits. They are highly social animals, living in matriarchal family groups and exhibiting complex behaviors such as grief, learning, allomothering, mimicry, play, altruism, use of tools, compassion, cooperation, and self-awareness. Elephants are an important symbol in many cultures and are considered a keystone species due to their role in shaping their ecosystems through their feeding and digging habits. They face numerous threats including habitat loss, poaching for their ivory tusks, and human-elephant conflict, leading to conservation efforts aimed at protecting them and their habitats.