Elephants are not only the largest land mammals on Earth. They are also among the most endearing: an irresistible mix of intelligence, dexterity and shear power.

Comprised of over 100,000 individual muscles, the elephant’s trunk is the world’s most versatile nose. At various times it functions as hand, weapon, drinking straw, vacuum cleaner, snorkel and eating utensil. Combine this with a pair of tusks which are, in fact, the world’s longest teeth and the elephant presents an extremely formidable face.

These powerful pachyderms are able to adapt to almost any African habitat. In the Kunene desert, they trek for days in search of precious water to drink. In the rainforest of Ghana, the smaller, more agile elephants face different challenges. In rarely captured footage, the forest elephants are seen spraying themselves with half-chewed food and saliva to cool down.

Wherever they find themselves, elephants are fiercely familial. They travel in herds and keep in touch with each other using 30 different long-distance, low-frequency calls. This way, group members can call home from over 8 kilometers away.

Science has only recently revealed a rare new elephant ailment known as ‘floppy trunk syndrome’. Thought to be a new type of virus or the result of eating toxic introduced plants, the result is that the animal loses all control of its trunk. There is no recovery and, unable to feed properly, there is little hope of survival.

With stunning visuals, the latest scientific research and rare elephant behavior, we tell The Whole Story on Africa’s great grey giants.