Éléphant de savane vs Panda géant

Loxodonta africana compared with Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is 60.0x heavier than Panda géant.
• Éléphant de savane lives longer (65 years vs 20 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Panda géant
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Carnivora (carnivores)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Ailuropoda (Giant Pandas)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and Panda géant share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mammifères)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Panda géant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~1.9K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Panda géant
Diet	Herbivore	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	20 years
Average Length	6.0 m	1.5 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	100.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Éléphant de savane

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Panda géant

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate coniferous forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in China. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Éléphant de savane

The largest land animal on Earth, African elephants can reach 7,000 kg and inhabit sub-Saharan savannas, forests, and wetlands. Highly intelligent with complex social structures led by matriarchs, they communicate through infrasound, rumbles, and touch. As ecosystem engineers, they shape habitats by uprooting trees, digging waterholes, and dispersing seeds. Vulnerable, with populations declining due to ivory poaching and habitat loss.

Panda géant

Iconic black-and-white bear of the mountain bamboo forests of central China, giant pandas can weigh up to 125 kg and spend up to 14 hours daily consuming bamboo, which comprises 99% of their diet despite belonging to the order Carnivora. Solitary and elusive, they have a pseudo-thumb for gripping bamboo stems. Downgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2016 following successful conservation and breeding programs.