The Asian elephant is the largest land animal in Asia and among the heaviest land animals in the world, out-weighed only by African bush elephants. Adult male Asian elephants can weigh between 2400 kg and 5000 kg. They are found in 13 countries in Asia including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and China.
They inhabit grasslands, tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous and dry thorn forests and secondary forests and scrublands.
They are highly intelligent, form strong family bonds and are capable of feeling emotions such as grief as well as compassion. Their trunks function as a nose, upper lip, a limb for pushing and picking up things, as well as like a straw to pull up water for grooming and to drink. And did you know that the elephant’s trunk is more sensitive than a bloodhound’s nose and can smell water from several miles away? They also use the trunk to cuddle their young and display affection to one another. Most amazingly, it is also used as a snorkel while crossing deep water bodies!
Even scientists are waking up to what an extraordinary tool an elephant’s trunk is. Biomechanical engineers are studying the elephant’s trunk to find out how its complex operation can help them improve structural designs of many devices.
These extraordinary creatures are threatened by ivory poachers and loss of habitat, as well as elephant-human conflict. They are listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
Picture Credit : Google
