Why do African forest elephants have downward-pointing tusks?

Question

ok..I'll be more specific. Why do you think the forest elephants in Congo are small and have downward-pointing tusks? Thank you!!! You can still post even if u have already done so.

Answer 1

ALL elephants, including African, have "downward pointing tusks", as you call it, when the elephant is still relatively young.  As the animal gets older their tusks begin an upward turn and gain in girth too.  A large, bull, African Elephant can have tusks that weigh hundreds of pounds each. Asian Elephants can also have quite large tusks, even though they don't get as big as Africans.  The African Elephant is a larger animal anyway.

Thank goodness that man finally had the intelligence to "ban" all use of Ivory from these magnificent animals.  There is no use for it anyway.  Plastics can be used to do anything Ivory used to be used for, and better, and no animal had to die for it.

Answer 2

I'm sorry, I am unsure of what pictures you've been looking at, but they in truth don't (however, they are usually photographed from above, so that may account for your perception).  However, their tusks do not grow to be as big, or curve outwards in the same way as Savanah dwelling African Elephants.  It makes sense when you think about the fact, that these elephants are both smaller in size (generally) and have to fit through tighter spaces (between the trees) than Savannah elephants.

Answer 3

tusks are actually an elephants canines so they naturally point down