Balaphant

Balaphants are a species of elephant that live in the deserts and grasslands of the southern region of the continent.

In the wild, balaphants can live beyond 100 years and reach past 14 feet in height. Both females and males grow long curved tusks that can reach up to 5-6 long. These tusks are prized by many and balaphants are hunted down by poachers seeking the precious ivory. They live in large matriarchial societies and often live with the same members for their entire lives.

They are an intelligent animal that can be extremely violent when provoked. They eat a diet of tubes, grass, roots, and fruits. Their tough hides are colored with thick patches light orange and brown with ornate patterns of freckles and spots.

In certain regions of the south, it's not uncommon to find a balaphant kept in captivity. They are used by people as entertainment, beasts of burden and travel. In captivity, they tend to live much shorter and their tusks rarely grow the length that they do in the wild. Some tribes and villagers worship balaphants, coloring them with beautiful patterns and feeding them fruits and vegetables. They keep a symbiotic relationship growing with balaphants fertilizing the land, creating farmland while being fed by the same crops the villages grow.