The largest creatures on land are still in trouble from poaching for their tusks and meat, yet little is being said about these days as was not the case a few decades ago.
Used to be you could not turn on the news without witnessing the slaughter of these magnificent creatures.
The three species (yes, three) of elephants are all still being poached, even though most governments are trying hard in most cases to stop it.
The three extant species are:
African Bush Elephant (loxodonta africana)

African Forest Elephant (loxodonta cyclotis)

Asian Elephant (elephas maximus)

The African Bush Elephant is the largest species, with big bulls standing as much as 12 feet at the shoulder. They have four toes on the front feet and three on the back, and can weigh as much as six tons. Found on plains of sub Saharan Africa, traveling in groups of twenty or more. The current population is around 230,000.

The African Forest Elephant is found in Gabon and neighboring regions of the Congo. As their name suggests, they inhabit forests and especially along river basins. Smaller than the Bush Elephant, with more rounded ears, and having five front toes and four on the back like the Asian Elephant. Males of this species grow to nine feet at the shoulder and weigh up to two and a half tons. Once considered a race of the Bush Elephant, genetic tests have confirmed it a separate species. The tusks are smaller and straighter than the Bush Elephant. The current population is estimated at 100,000.

The Asian Elephant is the one most often seen in movies and captivity, because of its more tractable nature. Found in India, Cambodia, Thailand, and other regions of southern Asia. Unique because of its small ears, convex back, and longer trunk than its African relatives. Big bulls can be as much as ten feet at the shoulder. This elephant is the species most closely related to the mammoths. Population is around 53,000 today.
In the old Tarzan movies, fake large ears were attached to these animals to make them look like African elephants!
All elephants still need help from us to survive. More pressure should be brought to bear on countries where these great creatures survive.