Indian elephants are smaller than African elephants bush elephants, however, their size is also impressive - old individuals (males) reach a weight of 5.4 tons with an increase of 2.5-3.5 meters. Females are smaller than males, weighing an average of 2.7 tons. The smallest is a subspecies from Kalimantan (weight about 2 tons). For comparison, the African savannah elephant weighs from 4 to 7 tons. The body length of the Indian elephant is 5.5-6.4 m, the tail is 1.2-1.5 m. The Indian elephant is more massive than the African one. The legs are thick and comparatively short; the structure of the soles of the feet resembles that of an African elephant - there is a special springy mass under the skin. Hooves on the front legs 5, on the hind legs 4. The body is covered with thick wrinkled skin; skin color - from dark gray to brown. The thickness of the skin of an Indian elephant reaches 2.5 cmhowever, it is very thin on inside ears, around the mouth and anus. The skin is dry and has no sweat glands, so caring for it is an important part of an elephant's life. Taking mud baths, elephants protect themselves from insect bites, sunburn and fluid loss. Dust baths, bathing and scratching on trees also play a role in skin hygiene. Often, depigmented pinkish areas are noticeable on the body of the Indian elephant, which give them a mottled appearance. Newborn baby elephants are covered with brownish hair, which is wiped off and thins with age, but even adult Indian elephants are more covered with coarse wool than African ones.
Just as humans are right-handed and left-handed, different elephants are more likely to use a right or left tusk. This is determined by the degree of wear of the tusk and its more rounded tip.
In addition to the tusks, the elephant has 4 molars, which are replaced several times during life as they wear out. When changing, new teeth do not grow under the old ones, but further on the jaw, gradually pushing the worn teeth forward. The Indian elephant has molars 6 times during its life; the latter erupt by about 40 years. When the last teeth are worn down, the elephant loses the ability to eat normally and dies of starvation. As a rule, this happens by the age of 70.
Distribution and subspecies
In ancient times, Asian elephants were found in the South East Asia from the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia (45 ° E) to the Malay Peninsula, in the north reaching the foothills of the Himalayas and the Yangtze River in China (30 ° N). They were also found on the islands of Sri Lanka, Sumatra and, possibly , Java . In the 16th and 19th centuries, the Indian elephant was still common throughout most of the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and eastern parts of its former range.
Currently, the range of Indian elephants is highly fragmented; in the wild, they are found in the countries of the Indo-Malay biogeographic region: South and Northeast India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Southwest China, Malaysia (mainland and on the island of Borneo), Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra) and in Brunei.
Subspecies
Four modern subspecies of the Asian elephant are known:
Sri Lankan elephants
Hybrids of Asian and African elephants
Lifespan
In nature, Indian elephants live up to 60-70 years, in captivity - up to 80 years. Adult elephants do not have natural enemies(other than human); baby elephants may be attacked by tigers and Indian lions.
Population size and status
Throughout history, people have hunted elephants, first for their meat, later for their tusks. With the advent of Europeans, the extermination of wild Indian elephants for the sake of ivory, protection of crops and anthropogenic change habitat conditions have sharply reduced their numbers and reduced their range. The area has turned into a number of isolated areas confined to deaf or protected places. The range and number of wild elephants began to decline especially sharply in recent decades 20th century in connection with the expansion of agricultural land and plantations of eucalyptus, which are used as the main raw material for the paper and pulp industry in the countries of Southeast Asia. In addition, elephants began to be destroyed as pests of agriculture, despite existing conservation laws. Asian female elephants were almost unaffected by ivory hunting (due to the lack of tusks), so that poaching did not lead to such a drastic decline in elephant numbers as in Africa. However, the reduction in the number of males, in general, led to a strong skew in the proportion of sexes, which had serious demographic and genetic consequences.
The total population of all subspecies of the wild Asian elephant is estimated at:
| Year | Number (individuals) |
|---|---|
| 1900 | OK. 200,000 |
| Late 1970s | 25,000 - 36,000 |
| 1978 | 28,000 - 42,000 |
| 1983 | 30,000 - 40,000 |
| 1984 | Less than 50,000 |
| 1990 | 34,000 - 56,000 |
| 1991 | 30,000 - 55,000 |
| 1995 | No more than 50,000 |
| 1997 | 35,000 - 50,000 |
| 2003 | 30,000 - 40,000 |
| 2005 | 35,000 - 50,000 |
Working elephant in India
The first law on the protection of elephants (Elephants "Preservation Act) was adopted in India. According to it, a wild elephant could be killed by a person only in self-defense or to prevent harm. Since the year, the Asian elephant has been included in the International Red Book as a species , close to extinction ( endangered). It is also listed in CITES Appendix I. Currently, The Wildlife Trust of India, together with the World Land Trust, are implementing projects to create original “corridors” along the traditional migration routes of wild elephants that will connect isolated parts of their range in the Indo-Burmese region.
In general, the reasons for the decline in the number of Asian elephants boil down to persecution due to damage to crops, hunting (mainly for ivory and meat) and degradation. environment due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on natural landscapes(including due to deforestation). Many elephants die in traffic accidents when they collide with vehicles. According to some estimates, the population of the wild Asian elephant is declining by 2-5% annually.
Elephants, like any large animal, are potentially deadly to humans. Wandering lone elephants and females with cubs are especially aggressive.
Significance for a person
elephant taming
The Asian elephant in captivity is quickly tamed, remarkably easy to train, and can subsequently perform hard work. For centuries, elephants in Southeast Asia have been used as riding, draft and pack animals, most often in logging operations, where elephants acted as "living cranes", carrying and loading cut tree trunks. However, at present, technological progress and rapid mixing forest areas made the traditional "profession" of the Asian elephant almost unnecessary. They continue to be used as mounts, especially in vehicular impassable areas.
Photo 1916. Using an elephant as a traction force
Despite the fact that Asian elephants breed well in captivity, mainly captured and tamed elephants were used in the work. wild elephants. Young growth could be used on the farm only from the age of 7, and for the heaviest - only from 12 years old. Wild animals over 30 years old were practically not amenable to training, so they were released during roundups.
Tamed elephants have long been used as fighting force. Elephants played important role and in the culture of the Indian subcontinent. In the main religions of India, Hinduism and Buddhism, these animals (especially white ones) occupy one of the important places and traditionally participate in religious ceremonies. The most famous processions are in Kerala, where temple elephants in rich decoration carry statues of the gods. In general, having long been surrounded by reverence, Asian elephants were not destroyed as barbarously as African ones.
Elephant - symbol positive- used in Asia as a royal supreme animal and highly valued for intelligence and cunning. The white elephant, which heralded the birth of Buddha, has become a symbol of the liberator of people from the shackles of earthly existence. In Hinduism, Ganesha, the god of literature and wisdom, has an elephant head. V Ancient China the elephant was also a symbol of strength and intelligence. And in the Western ancient world, an exotic animal was considered as an attribute of the god Mercury - the embodiment of hereditary wisdom and non-aggressive power.
Thanks to longevity, the elephant symbolizes the overcoming of death. In medieval books, the chastity of elephants is extolled. They are often found on images of paradise and on coats of arms (after crusades). In 1464 the Order of the Elephants was formed in Denmark. The white elephant was the symbol of the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand). In China, they believe that riding an elephant in a dream means happiness.
Indian elephants in culture and art
famous elephants
Hanno's epitaph
Abul Abbas
Abul-Abbas is a white Asian elephant presented by the Baghdad Caliph Harun-Al Rashid to Emperor Charlemagne in 798. The journey from India to Germany lasted several years, and the gift arrived at Charlemagne in Aachen only in 802, June 1.
Hanno
Sketches of Hanno the elephant by Raphael
The elephant Hanno belonged to Pope Leo X. This white Asian elephant was presented to the pope by the Portuguese king Manuel I. Hanno was brought to Italy by ship from Lisbon in 1514. By that time the elephant was about four years old. At first, the elephant was kept in a belvedere, and then a special elephant house was built for him next to St. Peter's Cathedral.
Hanno became a favorite of the papal court. Often he took part in solemn processions. However, the elephant did not live long - he died on June 8, 1516.
The memorial frescoes with the elephant were painted by Rafael Santi (the frescoes have not survived), and Pope Leo X himself wrote the text of the epitaph on the elephant.
Suleiman
Elephant Suleiman, engraving
The Asiatic elephant Suleiman was presented by the Portuguese king João III to Prince Maximilian (who later became Emperor
African elephant and Indian elephant are representatives different types one family of elephants. As close relatives, they have much in common, but their differences are obvious even to a non-specialist: animals differ not only in appearance, but also in their behavior.
Elephants are loved by many people - both adults and children. From these huge and strong animals breathes reliability and inner peace. Unfortunately, the once large family of elephants has been practically destroyed, and today only two species remain on earth - the Indian and African elephants. But not everyone knows how to distinguish them from each other.
Surprisingly, these two representatives of the same family - the Indian and African elephants - have such obvious differences that biologists have ranked them as certain types. Even outwardly, the animals are very different and this is noticeable even in the photo.
Comparison of African and Indian Elephant: Sizes
And we will start with the most obvious indicator, which is obvious even to a person who is far from biology. It is known that on Earth there is no larger land dweller than an elephant. What do you think, which elephant is bigger - Indian or African? Of course, the African is larger than his Asian relative and is the most large mammal on the land. The height of this giant at shoulder level reaches four meters. And the length of the body in some cases exceeds seven meters. The weight of the giant is up to seven tons.
Indian elephants, in comparison with their counterparts, look just “babies”: their height does not exceed three meters, their length is about six meters, and their weight is rarely more than five tons.
body outline
Even in the outlines of the body, one can see the differences between the Indian elephant and the African elephant. "African" has a straight or slightly concave back. In the "Asian" it is convex. Indian elephant has thicker and shorter limbs and therefore he looks more overweight. The African elephant simply needs long legs, because he eats only the foliage of trees, for which he has to reach quite high, and his counterpart from Asia often eats some food from the ground.
Skeleton
Now you know the answer to the question of which of the animals - the Indian or the African elephant - is larger, so when you come to the circus or zoo, you can easily determine their species. But these giants also have some features. internal structure, which are not visible to a person far from biology. The fact is that in the structure of the skeleton there are differences between the African elephant and the Indian elephant. The first has twenty-one pairs of ribs, the second has only nineteen. An African elephant has thirty-three vertebrae in its tail, while an Asian elephant has twenty-six.
Skin covering
Another indicator by which it is easy to understand how the African and Indian elephants differ: the skin of the “African” is covered with numerous wrinkles, and the smooth surface of the body of the Asian animal is covered with small hairs. There are also differences in skin color: the Indian giant is much darker than its African counterpart. The first skin is brown or dark gray, and the second is gray, even sometimes has a brown tint.
Ears
Representatives of these species differ in the length and shape of the ears. Large, elongated, somewhat rounded ears were awarded by the nature of the “African”, and the Asian elephant got smaller ears: they are more elongated and pointed.
tusks
Luxurious tusks (in females they are slightly smaller) are endowed with a male African elephant. And the Indian elephant has tusks, but the females are completely deprived of them. A native of Africa has a curved tusk and in males it reaches three and a half meters in length. In the "Asian" it is much shorter and, moreover, almost straight.
trunks
And even the trunk - a characteristic feature of these animals - the African and Indian elephants are arranged differently. And in one and the other animal, they have processes that resemble fingers in shape. True, there are two of them on the trunk of an elephant from Africa, and only one from India.
Indian elephant habitat
Unlike the African counterpart, the Indian elephant is a forest dweller. He likes a light forest, especially with a small undergrowth of bamboo thickets. Today, the favorite place of these animals, where they went when the air temperature dropped, is the savanna, reserved for Agriculture. V summer time animals go to the mountains, rise to the Himalayas, to the border where eternal snows lie.
Indian elephants living in vivo, create family groups, which can number up to twenty individuals. The leader in such a group is an old and experienced female. Indian elephants are obedient animals, easy to train and excellent at work. A special saddle is installed on the back of the animal, which can accommodate up to four people.
Where does the African elephant live?
The African giant prefers to settle in the steppes of Africa and Egypt. Representatives of this species live in Ceylon, India, Burma, Indochina. Animals are united in herds, the number of which can reach fifty individuals.
There are also solitary elephants. As a rule, these are rather aggressive individuals that can pose a danger to other animals. A rather friendly atmosphere reigns in the herd, elephants take care of their offspring, support each other. Elephants are able to show emotions and quickly remember people, objects, places.
An African elephant eats up to one hundred and thirty kilograms of food per day (fruits, leaves, tree bark) and spends most of its time searching for food. These giants sleep no more than four hours a day. As a rule, they settle near water bodies and drink almost two hundred liters of water per day. African elephant, despite impressive size, is an excellent swimmer, swimming long distances.
Behavior
The African elephant and the Indian elephant differ in their temperament. Representatives Indian look more friendly towards people, it is not difficult to tame them. It is their inhabitants Asian countries used to perform heavy physical work, for example, when transporting bulky heavy items. And in the circus, Indian elephants often demonstrate their skills to us.
The African Elephant is quite often aggressive and it takes a lot of effort to train him, although this task cannot be called impossible.
These mammals differ in the language of communication that is quite understandable to humans. When the animal is "not in the mood" or aggressive, it spreads its ears. For defense, tusks, a trunk and powerful legs are used. When an elephant senses danger or is frightened by something, it squeals and runs away, destroying everything in its path.
species status
Once a herd African elephants reached four hundred individuals. Nowadays, the number of all species is rapidly declining and animals are listed in the International Red Book. Both species are on the verge of extinction. Scientists believe that the main reason for this is the destruction natural environment the habitat of these giants. They are listed in the Red Book: African in the section "Endangered", Indian - in the "Threatened".
No matter how different these huge animals are, we must not forget that they are in dire need of human help. Only he can take action to save these animals from extinction. Otherwise, one day people will simply lose these smart and strong helpers.
- Did you know that among elephants there are "right-handers" and "left-handers"? Determining which category an animal belongs to is quite simple: by the length of the tusks. A shorter one indicates belonging to a particular category.
- Ivory is very expensive, so animals die en masse at the hands of poachers. Despite the fact that trade in this material is now banned in most countries, up to a hundred animals die every year at the hands of man.
- Elephants have four molars. The weight of each of them, the size of a brick, weighs two to three kilograms. Six times during a lifetime, molars change.
- Trunk - connection of the nose with upper lip, which the elephant breathes, showers, drinks, smells and makes sounds, contains one hundred thousand muscles. With it, the animal lifts objects weighing up to a thousand kilograms, and carries them over tens of kilometers.
The Indian elephant is the largest animal tamed by man. In the countries of South and Southeast Asia, elephants are revered for their strength and intelligence. In the Hindu pantheon, the elephant-headed god Ganesha is the personification of wisdom. It brings good luck and prosperity to the house.
Relationship with a person
The history of interaction between humans and the Asian elephant goes back centuries. Unlike the indomitable African brothers, the Asian giant found mutual language with humans 5500 years ago. Animals are easily tamed, quickly adapt to new conditions of existence. V ancient india they constituted a powerful combat-ready force that was used during the battles.
V Peaceful time people used the power of huge mammals to carry out hard work. Animals are involved in logging. They carry cut trees, stack boards, load barges. The carrying capacity of 1 animal is 350 kg. With the introduction of mechanization, the number of working elephants in the Asian region is gradually decreasing. However, in the rugged, swampy areas of India, elephants still play an important role in economic work.
In Thailand and India, elephants are trained to ride. In the old days, the rulers of India, the Rajas, rode on riding elephants. Now a ride on the back of a giant animal has become a popular attraction for tourists. Passengers going up the ladder on the back of a huge animal and are placed in a special box called gaudha. It accommodates up to 4 people. Operates an unusual vehicle - a driver (mahout). With the help of a bamboo stick, he gives commands and directs the movement.
Riding elephants in India participate in religious ceremonies. During the solemn procession, figures of deities and sacred relics are carried through the streets on their backs.
Elephants - albinos with a rare light skin color are considered sacred animals. In Thailand, white elephants are traditionally the property of the monarch, and the state is colorfully called the “Land of the White Elephant”.
Smart animals have learned to demonstrate their talents in different ways. Asian elephants perform numbers in circus arenas, play football, draw pictures.
However, people are not always sympathetic to giant animals. Wild elephants often trample down crops and destroy plantations of sugar cane, rice, and bananas. Therefore, the villagers are fighting them. The reduction of the population is also affected by the shooting of animals to obtain their tusks.
The total number of Asian elephants is estimated at about 50 thousand individuals. In the mid-80s, the animal was taken under protection and included in the International Red Book. Despite the measures taken, the organization of nature reserves, the number of elephants in wild nature steadily declining by 2-3% per year.
Geography and population
Wild elephants live in subtropical and tropical zones Asian subcontinent. They can be found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Indonesia. The main habitat is dense forests. In the foothills of the Himalayas Indian elephants in the summer rise to a height of more than 3 thousand meters above sea level and reach the snow line. Mammal giants have also adapted to life in wetlands and feel good on the banks of water bodies.
Asian elephants are usually divided into subspecies:
- Indian;
- Ceylonese;
- Malay;
- Sumatran.
Most rare species live in the Sunda Islands. The number of the Malayan elephant is less than 500 individuals, and the Sumatran elephant is even smaller. Ceylon variety from Sri Lanka has approximately 2.5 thousand copies. Most elephants in India - over 3-5 thousand animals. The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is especially famous for its abundance of giants, where, according to estimates, 400 Indian elephants live.
Appearance
Elephas maximus or Asian elephant belongs to the family of proboscis animals. Its closest relative lives in Africa. Asian look differs from its counterpart in smaller sizes:
- height- 2.5–3.5 m;
- length torso - 5.4 - 6.4 m (tail 1.2 -1.5 m);
- weight- 2,700 kg (female) and 5,400 (male).
The body is massive, voluminous. The skin is wrinkled, dense (thickness 2.5 cm). The most tender areas are inside the auricle and around the mouth. Dark skin color predominates - from brown to gray. Albinos with yellow eyes and fair skin are rare. Rigid sparse hair grows on the body.
Legs are short. The foot ends with hooves: there are 5 on the front legs, 4 on the hind legs.
The head is large with a flattened skull in the frontal part. The ears are relatively small, in the form of an elongated quad. Feature all proboscis - fusion of the nose with the upper lip. The trunk performs the functions of the organ of respiration, smell and touch. With its help, the animal obtains food, drinks water, bathes. The trunk ends with one finger-like process.
Tusks are smaller than African species. Their length is a maximum of 1.5 m, and their weight is up to 25 kg. Unlike elephants living on the Black Continent, only male Asian elephants have tusks. Among the Ceylon variety, the so-called "makhna" - males without tusks - are often found.
Animals have 4 molars, which appear at the age of 15–16 instead of milk teeth. Every 12 years, teeth fall out and new ones grow in. Renewal occurs four times throughout life. After loss of last teeth, the animal cannot fully eat and dies of hunger. The average life expectancy of Indian elephants is 60–65 years. Cases of longevity of individual individuals up to 80 years have been recorded.
Features of biology and behavior
Each group of elephants has its own territory in which they live. Animals tread paths along the routes of their constant movement. Elephanta feel dangerous places and try not to get close to them. Indian elephants walk almost silently. They have a special springy mass on the soles of their feet. Thanks to her, the foot area increases and the step becomes quiet.
Indian elephants love water. They enjoy swimming and know how to swim. Often arrange a shower with the help of a trunk. At one time, the trunk holds up to 10 liters of water. In a hot climate, water is necessary for animals to maintain the normal functioning of the body. An Indian elephant absorbs 180 liters of fluid per day. However, if necessary, it can go without drinking for several days.
- Asian elephants eat grass and leaves. Daily rate feed 100–150 kg. The lack of minerals is replenished by eating the soil.
- elephants communicate with each other using low-frequency sounds that are not perceived by human hearing. Signals are given at a distance of up to 19 km.
- Elephants have developed tear glands, so animals can cry. Weeping elephants can be observed in zoos.
- In wild nature Asian elephants have no enemies. For singles, an attack by large predatory cats(panthers, leopards, Bengal tigers).
An amazing feature of the behavior of elephants is their attitude towards dead relatives. They are the only mammals other than humans that practice burying. If the skeleton of a deceased brother is found, the elephants carefully separate its bones and bury them in the soil.
social structure
In the wild, Indian elephants live in groups of 10–20 individuals. Usually this is one big family. Adult females predominate in its composition (50%). Adult males make up a third of the group. Young animals account for about 20%. Within the herd, there is a strict hierarchical structure based on the principles of matriarchy. An elderly experienced female manages all the livestock.
During danger or during childbirth, the group becomes in a ring. The smallest and weakest are placed in the center. Not a single predator can break through such protection. Relatives protect a young mother with a cub until he gets on his feet. In the elephant herd there is mutual assistance and mutual assistance. Baby elephants can get food from any lactating female. If a baby's mother dies, then another elephant takes him to be raised.
males most spend time alone. They unite with females only when attacked. mating season. Occasionally, several adult animals may form a temporary group.
reproduction
Sexual maturity in Indian elephants occurs at 12–16 years of age. During the mating season, males dramatically increase the level of testosterone in the blood. The state of sexual arousal is called "mast" or "must." Animals spend time in active search females ready to mate. In an excited state, Asian elephants behave extremely aggressively, fighting for the right to possess a female. The mating season is 60 days. The interval between pregnancies in females is from 4 to 5 years.
The Indian elephant bears offspring for a long period of 18 to 22 months. Mostly one cub is born. Having two babies at the same time a rarity. A newborn weighs 100 kg and reaches 1 m in height.
The new member of the herd is greeted by the rest of the group. They take turns approaching the baby and touching it with their trunk. The baby elephant gets on its feet 4 hours after birth, at this time the baby is most vulnerable and can become easy prey for predators. Therefore, all members of the group try to protect him. For two years, the cub feeds on mother's milk, and then switches to plant foods.
Upon reaching the age of 7–8 years, male individuals leave the parent herd and begin to live independently. A 20-year-old Indian elephant is considered a fully grown adult.
It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the elephant in the culture of India, this ancient and mysterious country. This is not only because they have huge size, but also by the fact that elephants are a symbol of wisdom and kindness, as well as strength and power.
From time immemorial, it has been believed that the image of an elephant, whether it is a drawing, embroidery, or a sculptural image, brings happiness. Therefore, in every Indian home there are sure to be these talismans, they bring peace and tranquility. And tourists who come to India from all over the world always take the figurine of an elephant with them. And everyone cherishes it with the hope of happiness, with kindness in their hearts.
Elephants in India are not the largest on Earth. They are smaller than African. But still they are very impressive in size. Males reach a height of up to 3.5 meters and more than 5 tons of weight, their length is up to 6 meters, and the tail is up to 1.5 meters. The Indian elephant has short and thick legs, 5 hooves on the front legs, 4 on the hind legs. The skin is very thick 2.5 cm and very wrinkled, but its color can be gray with various shades and brown. It is noteworthy that there are no sweat glands on the skin of the animal, the skin is very dry. And elephants take care of their skin in a very peculiar way. They take mud and dust baths, bathe, scratch themselves on tree trunks. The mud protects them from insect bites, as well as from the scorching rays of the sun.
Elephants in India take an active part in human life. They perform the most difficult work in difficult terrain, such as swamps and jungles, lift huge weights and carry them over long distances. But these heavyweights are used not only on hard work. All the rulers of India always kept them for ceremonial trips. How important and slow these majestic animals move in festive processions! They also live in temples. They even give blessings to believers. And for a fee. And the money is given to its owner.
In a rage, an elephant is very scary. And he can kill a person who meets on his way. And in early December, a grandiose fair is held in the city of Sonepur on the banks of the Ganges, where you can buy a wide variety of animals. Including elephants. Anyone wondering how much an elephant costs in India? Its price at this fair is from 300 to 6000 dollars. Only those buyers who decide on such an exotic purchase should know that he eats 100 kg of food per day.
The epic "Mahabharata" describes that Indian elephants took part in the fighting, being part of the army units. Stories have survived to this day about how the invincible warriors of the army of Alexander the Great fled in horror when they saw elephants for the first time. True, later the cunning Macedonians took into account everything weak spots Indian army, and yet won. But the fear they experienced has gone down in history.
One can talk endlessly about elephants in India. They take great place in Buddhism, indeed White elephant, according to ancient legend, brought the message to the mother of the Buddha that she would have a royal child. And since then, the happy messenger in Buddhism has been a sacred animal. The sadder is that the number of elephants has greatly decreased and in 1986 they were listed in the Red Book. But we must definitely believe that we, the inhabitants of the Earth, will not allow the disappearance of such a beautiful animal as the elephant.
The Indian elephant, also called the Asian elephant, is one of the endangered species of elephants that are listed in the Red Book. This is one of the largest animals on our planet, which is somewhat similar to ancient mammoth. The ears have a characteristic pointed shape and are extended downwards.
The length of the tusks of male Indian elephants reaches 1.5 meters, which is why they are often the subject of poaching. There are elephants that do not have tusks. They live mainly in eastern India.
In addition to India, this type of elephant lives in Nepal, Burma, Thailand and the island of Sumatra. Due to the expansion of agricultural land in these countries, elephants have no place to live, as a result of which their number in last years decreased sharply.
The habitat of the Indian elephant is a light forest with shrubby undergrowth. Closer to summer, they like to climb mountains, and almost never go out into the savannahs, since these territories have been turned into lands where they constantly grow something.
Hierarchy of Indian Elephant Relationships
Usually Indian elephants live and keep in groups of 15-20 individuals, obeying the old female - it is she who is the head of the herd. The herd consists of subgroups of related females with cubs. As they increase, such subgroups can separate and form their own herd.
Male Indian elephants at the age of 7-8 years are separated from the herd and form their own groups for a short time. Having reached adulthood, males often stay alone. During the mating season, Indian elephant males are dangerous and aggressive and can even attack a person.
The social bonds of elephants are very strong. If there is a wounded person in the herd, others help him to get up, supporting him from both sides.
The habitats of Indian elephants have a complex and unique structure. They consist of sections connected by paths, as well as areas where elephants never enter. V danger zones Elephants walk only at nightfall.
How long does an Indian elephant live?
The life span of an Indian elephant is 60-70 years. Sexual maturity occurs at 8-12 years of age. The female carries the cub for 22 months, and becomes pregnant every 4-5 years. After giving birth, members of the herd approach the cub, greeting him with a touch of the trunk.
The mother helps him find the nipples. The cub immediately after birth is firmly on its feet and is able to move independently. By the age of 2-3 years, he begins to eat plant foods.
Indian elephant hunting
Elephants spend most of their time looking for food. They eat a lot of plant species, but almost 85% is their favorite food. During the day, the Indian elephant eats 100-150 kg per day, and in the wet season up to 280 kg, preferring grass in the wet season, and the woody mass of shrubs and trees in the dry season.
Elephants drink 180 liters of water per day. They also eat the soil, thereby replenishing their reserves of minerals and iron. In search of water, they can dig up dried up stream beds, which, after the departure of elephants, other animals use for watering. If there is enough moisture in the food, elephants can go without water for several days.
Why is the Indian elephant so revered in India?
In India, the elephant is considered a sacred animal, personifying wisdom, prudence and strength. After all, only this elephant wisely approaches the issue of survival - taking care of injured elephants and young animals. That is why the elephant is the symbol of India.
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