The Endangered Indian Elephant

The Rig Veda knows the Indian elephant only in the wild, as the “wild animal with a hand,” the trunk (mrga hastin).

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A Wild Indian Elephant crosses path in Manas National Park, Assam.

How many species of Elephants are the in the world?

There are three types of elephants alive today.

1. The African Savanna/bush elephant (Loxodonta africana).

2. The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).

3. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

Why is the Indian Elephant so famous?

The Indian Elephant is one of the sub-species of the three sub-species of Asian Elephants, ehich is the largest living land animal in Asia. It has been on the IUCN Red List as Endangered species since 1986. The Indian Elephant, scientifically called, Elephas maximus indicus, is named so because in Latin, the word, "Elephas" means Ivory/Elephant and "maximus" means "greatest" while "indicus" refers to india.

Apart from the Indian Elephant, other sub-species of the asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus) include the SriLankan Elephant (E. m. maximus) and the Sumatran Elephant (E. m. sumatranus).

How and Where do Indian Elephants live in the wild?

The Indian Elephants inhabit the grasslands, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. They are native to mainland Asia and live in several countries in the Indian subcontinent:

• Nepal

• Bangladesh

• Bhutan

other Southeast Asian countries include:

• Myanmar

• Thailand

• Malaysia

• Laos

• Cambodia

• Vietnam

Small populations are also reported in China while it is reported at regionally extinct in Pakistan.

Indian elephants are very social and build complex relationships within their herds. They have a fission–fusion society, meaning, they come together (fission) for a purpose like to sleep together and split for another purpose, like, foraging for food. A heard usually consists of related female (cows) elephants with their calves and juveniles (males and females) that are not yet adult. Sometimes, Juvenile males will form their own heard until they become adult (bull) and indepent, when they usually roam alone. In a heard of females, the older female will usually be more dominant.

What is the difference between the male Indian Elephant and female Indian elephant?

The Indian elephant show sexual diamorphism, meaning their morphological features differ depending on their gender. The female is usually smaller than the male with short or no tusks. Males are larger with tusks, leading to being called "Tusker". Howevery, sometimes adult males may not have tusks due to genetic composition. In India, such males may be called as "Makhna".

What are the threats to Indian Elephants ?

Habitat loss and Human-Animal conflict are amongst the major threats to the endangered Indian Elephants. Elephants in general are a keystone species, meaning they have a much larger impact on their environment than their numbers would suggest. They're essential for maintaining the balance and structure of their ecosystems. Just like wolves, lions, and beavers, elephants play a critical role in keeping their natural communities healthy and functioning. Their plant consumption patterns play a regulatory ecosystem function.

Is the Indian Elephant and the African elephant the same?

The Indian Elephant and the African Elephants are different species of elephants. One can tell them apart from their morphological features (how they look):

Ears:

• African: Large, fan-shaped ears

• Indian: Smaller, rounded ears.

Head:

• African: Rounded head.

• Indian: Twin-domed head with a central indentation.

Tusks:

• African: Both males and females typically have tusks.

• Indian: Primarily males have tusks; females may have very short tusks (tushes) or none at all.

Size:

• African: Generally larger and heavier.

• Indian: Smaller in comparison.

Back:

• African: sway back.

• Indian: arched or level back.

Toenails:

• African: Fewer toenails (4 on front feet, 3 on hind feet).

• Indian: More toenails (5 on front feet, 4 on hind feet).

Trunk:

• African: Has two "fingers" at the tip.

• Indian: Has one "finger" at the tip.

Skin:

• African: more wrinkled, darker

• Indian: smoother, lighter