COMMON NAME: INDIAN ELEPHANTS

SCIENTIFIC NAME: ELEPHAS MAXIMUS INDICUS

TYPE: MAMMALS
DIET: HERBIVOROUS
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 48 YEARS
SIZE: 2,6M FACTS
WEIGTH: 4000 KG ABOUT THE
SIZE RELATIVE TO A 6-AT MAN: INDIAN
ELEPHANTS

IUCN RED LIST STATUS:

VULNERABLE
EN
VU EN P

RESENT EVENT
ABOUT THE INDIAN
ELEPHANTS
 FACTS
ABOUT THE
INDIAN
ELEPHANTS

Indian elephants may spend up to 19 hours a day feeding and they can
produce about 220 pounds of dung per day while wandering over an area that
can cover up to 125 square miles. This helps to disperse germinating seeds.
They feed mainly on grasses, but large amounts of tree bark, roots, leaves and
small stems are also eaten. Cultivated crops such as bananas, rice and
sugarcane are favored foods as well. Since they need to drink at least once a
day, these elephants are always close to a source of fresh water.
 RESENT EVENT
ABOUT THE INDIAN ELEPHANTS
The quest for land by an increasing human population throughout the Indian

elephant’s habitat is leaving little room for them. Illegal encroachment into
protected areas and forest clearing for roads or other development are all
causing habitat loss and fragmentation. Habitat loss not only leaves elephants
without reliable food sources and shelter, it can also cause them to be
confined to isolated populations that cannot follow ancient migratory routes
or mix with other herds.
HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT
Habitat loss forces elephants to seek
alternative food sources in the many farms,
settlements and plantations that have replaced
their ancient forest homes. Elephants are large
and destructive animals and small farmers can
lose their entire livelihood overnight from an
elephant raid. Elephants have also caused
millions of dollars of damage to large
agricultural operations. As a result of their
destructive raids, elephants are often killed in
retaliation.
ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE;
Asian elephants are poached for their
ivory tusks, but unlike their African
cousins only male Asian elephants have
tusks. Every poaching event further
skews the sex ratio which contrains
breeding rates for the species.
Poaching rates are currently increasing
because the Asian middle class fuel
demand despite the fact that there is a
worldwide ban on ivory trade.