Classic Moments in the Forest


Indian Peafowl | Blackbuck | Elephant | Spotted Deer | Common Langur
Wild Boar | Indian Gaur | Tiger | Sambar | Sloth Bear | Leopard
Nilgiri Tahr




Photograph by T.N.A. Perumal, F.R.P.S., M.F.I.A.P.

Elephant (Kabini, Karnataka)

» SCIENTIFIC NAME: Elephas maximus
» KANNADA NAME: Aane

Elephants are very intelligent, with a keen sense of hearing and scent, poor vision and, according to lore, an incredible memory.

Indian elephants are smaller than their African counterparts, standing about 9’ high at the shoulder and weighing around 2-3 tons. An adult elephant will eat from 600-700 lb. (270 to 320 kg.) of green fodder a day. Among Asian elephants only the males have tusks. An elephant's trunk is very sensitive and serves as both a nose and upper lip. Its greyish-brown skin is 1" thick.

Though elephants have a lifespan of about 70 years, they rarely live this long, falling prey to predators, injuries and disease. Conflict between elephant and man arises from their unknowing invasion of each other's territory.

Distribution: Western Ghats, from Mysore southwards, Orissa, Bihar, Himalayas in U.P., West Bengal and Assam.

Habits and habitat: Primarily in tall forests and where bamboo grows profusely. Normally move in herds of 6-60 animals.

Natural enemies: Jungle predators like tigers; disease and man.

Food: Herbivores, feeding on various kinds of grasses, leaves of wild bamboo and plantains, most species of crops and the bark of particular trees. Feed early in the mornings, late evenings and at night and sleep during the hot hours.

Breeding habits: Main breeding season during hot weather and start of rains. Gestation period about twenty months. Single births are the norm.