The massive skeleton of the African elephant accounts for about 15 percent of the body weight, just as in a man of slender build; however, the elephant's skeleton supports as much as four tons per leg, and is thus stressed close to the physical limit for bone. To keep from damaging its skeleton, an African elephant has to move sedately, never jumping or running. The "charge" of these animals is a fast walk on long legs, at about 15 miles per hour