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Elephas maximus maximus
Large mammal with a distinctive trunk.This one is a tusker! It was also a loner. In India, we believe lone elephants are dangerous. Donot know if it applies to Sri Lankan ones as well. The cattle egret (bird in picture) is following the elephant and catching the insects that jump up, disturbed, as the large mammal passes.
Yala National Park. It is common to see elephants as you drive down the highway. Habitat loss is a threat. Elephant-human conflicts are on the rise...at least inside Yala this tusker is safe.
Wikipedia says: Only 7% of males bear tusks. According to the elephant census conducted in 2011 by the Wildlife Conservation Department of Sri Lanka, only 2% of the total population are tuskers.
Spotted on Jan 15, 2017
Submitted on Feb 10, 2017
5 Comments
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It would be amazeing to go out a see a elephant it's it's habitat. Great pictures.
That elephant is really cool. It's scientific name is Elephas maximus maximus
the sri lanken elaphent is cool because of how it is so big and carrys its weight so well
The Sri Lankan elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. He is so big