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Home / IAS Preparation / Asian Elephant

Asian Elephant - Overview, IUCN Status, Physical Features, Habitat, Behaviour, Conservation Parks And More

Last Updated on Aug 03, 2023
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The Asian Elephant is the largest living land mammal on the Asian continent. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and North China. The Asian Elephant is also known as an Asiatic Elephant. They live in grasslands and dry to wet forests in over 13 countries in South and Southeast Asia. The Asian elephant inhabits four dispersed groups in India’s south, north, central, and northeast regions. Their habitat varies from semi-arid thorn and scrub forests to rainy tropical evergreen forests. However, tropical deciduous forests are home to the greatest concentrations of elephants.

Asian Elephant is one of the important topics for the UPSC IAS Exam. It also covers a significant part of the Environment subject in the General Studies paper-3 syllabus. In this article, we shall cover important facts, Significance, and differences between Asian and African Elephants.

About Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant’s scientific name is Elephas maximus. It is the largest living terrestrial animal in Asia. Due to a population drop of at least 50% over the previous three generations of elephants, or roughly 60–75 years, the Asian elephant has been categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1986. Its main threats are habitat loss, habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, and poaching. There are three subspecies of Asian elephants: Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan. India has more than 60% population of Asian elephants.

  • Southern India, which consists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, accounted for the highest population.
  • The Highest Population is in Karnataka, followed by Assam and Kerala, respectively.

Check out the detailed article on Environment Impact Assessment with this link!

Overview of Asian Elephants

 Get a quick facts of Asian Elephants in the table below:

Asian Elephants Facts

Asian Elephant Scientific Name

Elephas maximus

Weight

3000 – 6000 kg

Habitat

Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

IUCN Status

Endangered

CITES

Appendix-1

Height

Males: 9.0 ft

Females: 7.9 ft

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Schedule-1

Subspecies

Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan

Asian Elephant Lifespan

48 Years

IUCN Status Of Asian Elephant

Asian elephant iucn status has been Endangered since 1986 due to population decline.

Elephant Census 2017

According to the last Elephant census held in 2017, there were 29,964 elephants in the country on average.

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Physical Features of Asian Elephants

The physical features of Asian elephants are listed below:

  • Asian elephants are highly intelligent animals. The brain of an elephant is massive, weighing between 9 and 13 pounds.
  • They are distinguished by close family ties, complex forms of communication, and complex behavior, including tools and the capacity for empathy and mourning.
  • Typically, females lack tusks, whereas males have larger, more pronounced tusks. Asian elephants have a big, well-developed neocortex, which is also found in several dolphin species, primates, and humans.
  • Compared to all terrestrial animals, a larger volume of the cerebral cortex is available for cognitive processing. The Asian elephant displays many feelings and actions, such as empathy, collaboration, self-awareness, and language.
  • They group into herds of kin-related females, with the oldest female serving as the “matriarch.”
  • All animals have the longest gestation periods (18 to 22 months).
  • Asian elephant males are less sociable than females as adults. They participate in musth, an annual mate-seeking ritual for older (over 30) males.

Subspecies of Asian Elephant

Here are some of the main subspecies of the Asian elephants:

  • Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus): The Indian elephant is the most widely recognized subspecies of Asian elephants. It is found primarily in India and also inhabits parts of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. 
  • Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus): The Sri Lankan elephant is native to Sri Lanka. It is considered a separate subspecies. 
  • Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus): The Sumatran elephant is found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is the smallest subspecies of Asian elephants.
  • Borneo Elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis): The Borneo elephant is found on the island of Borneo. 
  • Malaysian Elephant (Elephas maximus hirsutus): The Malaysian elephant is found in the Malaysian state of Sabah. It is considered a distinct subspecies. 

Also, check out the article on Biodiversity for UPSC preparation!

Distribution and Habitat of Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant is found in various regions of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its distribution spans from India in the west to Nepal in the north, Sumatra in the south, and Borneo in the east. The species has three recognized subspecies: Sri Lankan, mainland Asian, and Sumatran elephants. These elephants inhabit diverse habitats such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Behaviour of Asian Elephant

Asian elephants exhibit complex and social behavior. They live in groups led by a matriarch, which is usually the oldest and most experienced female. These elephants communicate through various vocalizations, body language, and tactile interactions. They are known for their intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and strong social bonds within their herds. Asian elephants also display a range of behaviors, such as bathing, dusting, and using tools like branches to scratch themselves.

Learn more about the himalayan serow!

Conservation of Asian Elephants

The elephant census is conducted once every 5 years. There are around 32 Elephant Reserves in India. Many elephants died from electrocution from 2018–19 to 2020–21. Most elephant deaths occur in Odisha, followed by Jharkhand and West Bengal. The following measures have been taken to conserve the Asian elephant:

  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) constituted a permanent coordination committee that includes the Ministry of Railways to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks.
  • When elephants try to pass through, a tug or pull from the rope causes the bees to swarm the elephant herds and stop them from moving forward. This is accomplished by connecting the boxes. It is an affordable method to decrease confrontations between people and wild animals without endangering them.
  • Project Elephant: The government of India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests established Project Elephant in 1992 to support states’ attempts to manage their free-ranging populations of wild Asian elephants through financial and technical support.
  • Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks Using Bees) has been reproduced in Assam by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) (after its success in Karnataka). In Project RE-HAB, bee boxes are placed in elephants’ pathways to limit their access to human domains.
  • Lemur Elephant Reserve, Chhattisgarh: The government recently suggested reducing the Lemru Elephant Reserve from 1,995 square kilometers to 450 square kilometers.
    • Elephants frequently migrate from Jharkhand and Odisha to Chhattisgarh. Therefore, the Lemru Elephant Reserve was suggested to reduce human-animal conflict there.
    • The area proposed for the reserve is a section of the Hasdeo Aranya woods, a particularly complex biozone rich in coal seams.
  • The Monitoring the Killing of Elephants (MIKE) program was launched in 2001 and is a site-based system created to track trends in elephant poaching, develop management capacity, and offer information to a range of states to aid in the management and enforcement choices.
  • The government of India launched the Hathi Mere Sathi Campaign 2011 at the Elephant-8 Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi. The campaign aims to protect and improve the well-being of elephants. The Ministry of Environment and Forests conducted it with the Wildlife Trust of India.
  • Elephant Task Force: It was instituted by the union government in 2010 under the leadership of historian Mahesh Rangarajan to evaluate the current elephant conservation policy in India and develop future action.

Download NCERT Notes on Environment for UPSC with this link!

Major Threats to Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant faces several significant threats to its survival. 

  • One major threat is human-elephant conflict. This arises due to the encroachment of human settlements into elephant habitats. This conflict often leads to the loss of both human and elephant lives. 
  • Poaching is another critical threat. It is primarily driven by the demand for ivory and elephant skin. 
  • Habitat loss and degradation caused by deforestation, agriculture, and infrastructure development further threaten the Asian elephant population. 
  • Disease outbreaks and improper handling methods also pose risks to their well-being.

Learn more about the Himalayan yak!

Cultural Significance of Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant holds great cultural significance in the regions where it is found. It has been an integral part of Asian traditions, folklore, and religious practices for centuries. In many cultures, elephants symbolize wisdom, strength, and good fortune. They are featured in religious ceremonies, processions, and festivals. Elephants have historically been used in various roles. Their iconic presence in art, literature, and mythology reflects their deep cultural importance.

Learn more about the himalayan ibex!

Elephant Conservation National Park

The below table shows the list of Elephant National parks in India:

List of Elephant Conservation National Park

S.No

National Park

State

1

Bandipur National Park

Karnataka

2

Nagarhole National Park

Karnataka

3

Manas National Park

Assam

4

Kaziranga National Park

Assam

5

Jim Corbett National Park

Uttrakhand

6

Rajaji National Park

Uttrakhand

7

Periyar National Park

Kerala

8

Balpakram National Park

Meghalaya

9

Simlipal National Park

Odisha

Learn more about the Indian rhinoceros!

World Elephants Day

World Elephants Day is an international event celebrated on 12 August to protect and preserve the world’s elephants. On the occasion of World Elephant Day, the Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change announced a joint exercise for the All-India elephant and tiger population estimation in 2022.

Learn more about the Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve!

Efforts from WWF Toward the Asian Elephant
  • WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is actively involved in conservation efforts for Asian elephants.
  • They work to protect and restore the natural habitats of Asian elephants to ensure their survival in the wild.
  • WWF collaborates with local communities and governments to implement conservation strategies that benefit both elephants and people.
  • The organization supports anti-poaching initiatives to combat illegal hunting and trade of elephant products.
  • WWF conducts research and monitoring programs to better understand the behavior and needs of Asian elephants.
  • They promote human-elephant conflict mitigation measures to reduce conflicts between elephants and communities.
  • WWF raises awareness about the importance of conserving Asian elephants and mobilizes support for their protection.
  • The organization advocates for stronger policies and regulations to safeguard elephants and their habitats.
  • Through their efforts, WWF aims to ensure a sustainable future for Asian elephants and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Differences between Asian and African Elephants

Refer to the below table to understand the difference between Asian and African Elephants:

Parameters

Asian Elephants

African Elephants

Image

    

IUCN Status

Endangered

Savanna Elephant – Endangered

Forest Elephant – Critically Endangered

Size

Smaller in size

Large size

Weight

3000 – 6000 kg

4000 – 8000 kg

Ears

Small round ears

Large ears

Forehead

Twin dome head

Single dome shape

Skin

Smooth skin

Wrinkled skin

Tusks

Only some male Asian Elephants have tusks, and tusks are absent in females

Both male and female elephants grow tusks

Shape

Convex shape

Concave shape

Lifestyle

Active during day

Active during the day and night

Habitat

Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

West and Central Africa, and through the savannas and deserts of Africa.

Lifespan

Up to 48 years

Up to 70 years

Asian Elephant – Characteristics, Significance, & Other Important Facts for UPSC Notes: Download PDF here!

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More Articles for IAS Preparation

Asian Elephant FAQs

Yes Asian elephants are still alive but their population is constantly declining because of this they are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red list.

The Indian state of Karnataka has the highest elephant population followed by Assam and Kerala.

Asian elephants are special because they are the largest terrestrial mammals in Asia.

Mysore Elephant Reserve (Karnataka) is the largest elephant reserve in India with a total area of 6724 square kilometres.

Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the government of India with the aim to protect and preserve the elephants.
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