Asian elephant Elephas maximus
The foresters of Asia.
This page tells you all about the behaviour and characteristics of the Asian elephant, and the threats they face.
The Asian elephant in a nutshell
- eats
- grass, bamboo, roots, bark, wood, fruits and fig leaves
- inhabits
- parts of South and Southeast Asia
- excels at
- intelligence and memory
Asian elephants play an important role in their ecosystem. Because they cannot digest their food properly, they excrete a great deal of plant material such as seeds and kernels, making them major seed dispersers. They also forge paths through the forest with their tusks, creating open space for new wildlife.
Trunk
A trunk is an elongated combination of the nose and upper lip. Elephants use their trunks for a variety of tasks, including eating, drinking, smelling, breathing, touching, washing and even fighting. The little ‘finger’ at the end of the trunk is very sensitive and is ideal for precise work. An adult elephant trunk contains up to 150,000 muscles.
Teeth
The elephant has one large molar in each half of the jaw. Chewing wears down the molars and moves them to the front of the jaw, where they eventually break off. New molars grow in from the back and push the old ones forward. Only males have tusks, which are upper incisors that grow continuously. Milk tusks are already present at birth. Elephants use their tusks for digging, removing tree bark and fighting, and as a place to rest the trunk.
Young
Asian elephants have a gestation period of 20 to 22 months. A newborn calf weighs about 90 kilos and can walk right away. The calf joins the herd after two days, but always stays close to its mother. The adult females form a protective circle within the herd to protect the little ones from danger and the sun. Whenever the females go in search of food, the calves are minded by a ‘babysitter’ elephant.
Endangered
The Asian elephant is listed as endangered and is under threat of extinction. Human activity poses the greatest threat, partly through hunting and poaching, but mostly due to the reduction and fragmentation of their habitat. ARTIS is participating in a species conservation programme (EEP, European Endangered Species Programme) aimed at restoring the population of Asian elephants.