Forest elephants are smaller than their savannah cousins - they stand about 2.4 metres tall at the shoulder rather than 3.3 metres. Their smaller, more rounded ears and downward-pointing tusks help them move through dense forest without getting tangled. They are masters at finding paths through vegetation that seems impenetrable.
Like all elephants, forest elephants are highly intelligent and live in family groups led by older females called matriarchs. The matriarch remembers where water and food can be found in different seasons, and her knowledge is essential for the whole family's survival. Young elephants learn from watching and following older relatives.
Forest elephants are sometimes called the 'architects of the rainforest'. When they walk, they clear paths that smaller animals use. When they eat, they knock down old trees that allow sunlight to reach the forest floor. Their dung contains seeds that grow into new plants. Without elephants, the forest would look and work very differently.