| Asian elephants are sometimes known as Indian | | | | Asian elephants have been domesticated for many |
| elephants. They are one of the three living species of | | | | purposes. In Southern and Southeast Asia, elephants |
| elephant. Asian elephants are found mostly in India, | | | | have been used for forestry purposes because their |
| Indochina, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Asian elephants | | | | tusks and large size make it easy for them to knock |
| are smaller than African elephants and Asian | | | | down small trees and brush. Asian elephants have |
| elephants also have smaller ears. This is one of the | | | | also been used during ceremonies for many centuries. |
| best ways to tell Asian elephants apart from African | | | | Some areas charge money to tourists to see Asian |
| elephants. The height of an Asian elephant ranges | | | | elephants in the wild, but it is difficult to do this |
| from 7-12 feet and they weigh approximately 3.25 to | | | | because elephants may damage property. |
| 5.5 tons. There are other physical characteristics that | | | | Danger of Asian Elephants |
| separate Asian elephants from their African | | | | Because of their size, Asian elephants are rather |
| counterparts. They have a more arched back and | | | | dangerous. They have tusks and large bodies that |
| also have more nails on the feet. While both male and | | | | can be used to destroy property and cause harm to |
| female African elephants have tusks, female Asian | | | | humans and other animals. Adult males are particularly |
| elephants usually do not have these tusks. Females | | | | aggressive because of the surge in testosterone |
| that do have tusks often have tusks that are small | | | | they experience after they go through puberty. This |
| and hard to see. | | | | aggression gives them the ability to cause a lot of |
| Behavior of Asian Elephants | | | | damage in a short amount of time. |
| Elephants travel in migratory routes that are seasonal | | | | Subspecies of Asian Elephants |
| in nature. These routes often take the Asian | | | | There are four subspecies of Asian elephants. The |
| elephants through wet and dry zones. The oldest | | | | Indian elephant (E. m. indicus) lives in southern India, |
| member of the herd is the elephant charged with | | | | northwest India, and the foothills of the Himalayans. |
| remembering where the routes lead. Asian elephants | | | | This subspecies has males that usually have tusks. |
| live for about 60 years when they are in the wild and | | | | The Sri Lankan elephant (E. m. maximus) only lives in |
| 80 years when they are in zoos and other captive | | | | Sri Lanka. Most of the elephants do not have tusks |
| environments. The females live in small groups that | | | | whether they are male or female. The Sumatran |
| are led by the oldest female in the group. The herd | | | | elephant (E. m. sumatrensis) lives in Sumatra. This |
| that elephants travel in consists of relative elephants. | | | | elephant is sometimes known as the pocket elephant |
| Male elephants are called bull elephants. They like to | | | | because of its small size. The Borneo elephant (E. m. |
| travel alone and often become involved in conflicts | | | | borneensis) is the smallest subspecies and lives in |
| over female elephants during the mating season. | | | | north Borneo. Even though this is the smallest |
| Domestic Use of Asian Elephants | | | | subspecies, it has the biggest ears. |
