Izindlovu (igama lesayensi:Elephantidae) ziyizilwane esikhulu ezincelisayo ezihlalae-Afrikane-Eshiya. Zimbili izinhlobo zezindlovu, yilezo okuthiwaindlovu yase-Afrika(Loxodonta) nendlovu yase-Eshiya(Elephas).
Izindlovu yizilwane ezikhulu emhlabeni wonke futhi yizilwane zihlakaniphile kakhulu! Kukhona izinhlobo ezimbili zezindlovu e-Asia futhi e-Africa.[1] Zahlala indawo yonke yase-Afrika. Abantu bahlaba izindlovu ngoba bafuna izinyo lendlovu. La mazinyo ayigugu kodwa manje ezizweni zikhulu zingavumelani nomthetho ukuzithengisa[2].
Izindlovu zinamandla zinkulu. Zinesikhumba esibambene noma esihlangene kodwa zithanda ukuzibhaceka ngoba udaka luvikela izikhumba zazo elangeni futhi kwizilwanyaze. Izindlovu zinezindlebe ezinkulu. Lezi zindlebe ziyazigwagwaza futhi zisiza ukuzipholisa[3].Kukhona izinhlobo ezimbili zezindlovu emhlabeni namuhla[4]
Izindlovu zihlala emihlambeni kodwa izinkunzi zahlala oyedwa. Uma amavukana ane-12 izinsuku zishiye umhlambi futhi ahlala kanye namavukana nentanga akhe. Izindlovu zingaphila ngaphezu kuna-60 noma 70 iminyaka kodwa ziyafa uma amazinyo azo edleka futhi azingadli kahle[5]. Izindlovu zisaba abantu kuphela kodwa uma zibuthakathaka amabhubhesi angazibulala.
