The biology world: The Asian Elephant

The Asian Elephant

The Asian Elephant is called as the Asiatic Elephant.It is the only living species of genus Elephas and they are distributed through the Indian subcontinent and south east Asia, India in the west, Nepal in north, Sumatra in south, Borneo in the east.

The Asian Elephant can leave the life of about 60 to 70 years but some Elephant can leave up to the life span of 100 years or more.The Asian Elephant is the largest living animal in Asia. The Asian Elephant are listed in endangered species on the IUCN red list, as there population are has decreased about 50% , the reason fort the decrease in the population of Asian elephant is they are losing there natural habitat and there birth rate is less and the death rate is more, the Elephant are also killed for there teeth because there teeth are so valuable, different types of rare medicine are made from them and they are also used as the decoration peace in the houses of rich people this is one of the most reason why Elephant are killed.

The Asian Elephant are very humble and loyal to human being as they were known as the symbol of god in Hindu religion as the Avatar of lord Ganesha. The Elephant were used in the battle field by the kings army to win the battle as they were big in size and were so strong as a single elephant can kill up to 100 to 200 peoples in the battle field.The Elephant was the royal vehicle of lord Indra in Hindu religion which was so big and beautiful and he was white in color and his name was Airavata, it was also called as 'abhra-matanga' as the Elephant of clouds,'Naga-malla' the fighting Elephant.

Size

On average, males are about 2.75 m (9.0 ft) tall at the shoulder and 4 t (4.4 short tons) in weight, while females are smaller at about 2.4 m (7.9 ft) at the shoulder and 2.7 t (3.0 short tons) in weight. Length of body and head including trunk is 5.5–6.5 m (18–21 ft) with the tail being 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long.The largest bull elephant ever recorded was shot by the Maharaja of Susang in the Garo Hills of Assam,India in 1924, it weighed 7 t (7.7 short tons), stood 3.43 m (11.3 ft) tall at the shoulder and was 8.06 m (26.4 ft) long from head to tail.There are reports of larger individuals as tall as 3.7 m (12 ft).

Domestication

The first historical record of the domestication of Asian elephants was in Harappan times. Ultimately, the elephant went on to become a siege engine, a mount in war, a status symbol, a beast of burden, and an elevated platform for hunting during historical times in south Asia.

Elephants have been captured from the wild and tamed for use by humans. Their ability to work under instruction makes them particularly useful for carrying heavy objects. They have been used particularly for timber-carrying in jungle areas. Other than their work use, they have been used in war, in ceremonies, and for carriage. It is reported that war elephants are still in use by the Kachin independence army (KIA) to take control of Kachin state in northern Myanmar from Myanmar's military. The KIA use about four dozen elephants to carry supplies. They have been used for their ability to travel over difficult terrain by hunters, for whom they served as mobile hunting platforms. The same purpose is met in safaris in modern times.