Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Average lifespan in the wild: Up to 60 years
Size: Height at the shoulder, 6.6 to 9.8 ft (2 to 3 m)
Weight: 2.25 to 5.5 tons (2,041 to 4,990 kg)
Group name: Herd
Protection status: Endangered
Asian elephants are smaller than their African counterparts, most easily noted
in their ear size. They are more readily tamed than African elephants and have
been used as beasts of burden for centuries. Despite their size, their charge
speed can reach nearly 50kmph. Wild bulls are solitary, while cows and calves
live in small herds. Though the adult Asian elephant has no natural predators,
there are only around 50,000 left in the wild.
Asian elephant video.
How long do Asian elephants live?
Elephants life spans have been exaggerated in the past and live on average for 60 years in the wild and 80 in captivity. They eat 10% of their body weight each day, which for adults is between 170-200 kilograms of food per day. They need 80–200 litres of water a day, and use more for bathing. They sometimes scrape the soil for minerals.
What's the use of the trunk of an Asian elephant?
The trunk is an amazing organ of extreme dexterity: it is the single most important feature of an elephant, and gives the Order Proboscidea its name. It is actually a fusion between the nose and upper lip, and consists of some 100 000 muscle units, which allow the elephant to move the trunk with such a wide range of movement.
Elephants use their trunks to, among other things: breathe through, smell with, to pick up water to drink (the trunk can hold 8.5 litres), to pick leaves, fruit, etc., either off trees or off the ground, to cover themselves with mud, water or dust, and to communicate with each other, via touch, smell and the production of sound. It is also used for lifting objects and as a weapon. African elephants have two 'fingers' at the tip of the trunk, which are fleshy, mobile and very sensitive.
Why do an Asian elephant have tusks?
Elephants use their tusks to dig for roots and water, strip bark from trees, and even fight each other. Unfortunately their ivory has gotten them into a lot of trouble.
What does the Asian elephant eat?
Elephants eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark, and they eat a lot of these things. An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of food in a single day.
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Download free Asian elephant color pages, click on the image to open the large version.
Type: Mammal
How long do Asian elephants live?
What's the use of the trunk of an Asian elephant?
Why do an Asian elephant have tusks?
What does the Asian elephant eat?
