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Project Noah Nature School
Elephas maximus (sub species: indicus)
Skin nearly naked. Tail with a row of long coarse hairs for a few inches before and behind and round the end only. Five hoofs normally on each fore foot, four hoofs on each hind foot.Males as a rule have well developed tusks.Colour blackish grey throughout.The forehead, base of the trunk, and the ears often mottled with flesh-colour.Head oblong, with a concave forehead;crowns of the molars presenting narrow transverse ridges ; 4 toes to the hind-feet ; ears moderate; tusks large in the male, small in the female.Asian elephants are smaller than their African savannah relatives (Loxodonta africana) and have many other physical features that distinguish them.
Asian elephants are terrestrial and they occur in grassland, tropical evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forested and dry thorn forest, in addition to cultivated and secondary forests and scrublands. The life span of Asian elephants is 60 to 70 years.They are essentially mixed feeders, so accessibility to a wide range of plants, and to water within one day’s walk, are essential prerequisites.
The mahouts are not only people who manages and trains the elephants but there is deep bond of love. Just as the mahouts take care of these huge beasts, they also deeply love them. It was quite apparent to the onlookers. It was a wonderful and touching to witness them together. Listed under the IUCN as Endangered, elephants have maintained the following relations with humans over the years-Domestication,Human- Elephant conflict,poaching,cultural. Elephants are bred in captivity for their conservation, as done here in Dhupguri,West Bengal.
Spotted on Jul 5, 2013
Submitted on Dec 13, 2013
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