Elephant

Asian Elephant

The Asian Elephant was once widespread throughout Asia. However, loss of habitat and poaching has forced remaining populations into heavily forested, inaccessible regions in south and SE Asia. Countries in which the Asian Elephant may be found include Sri Lanka, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia (on the island of Sumatra) and Cambodia.

In the wild the Asian Elephant eats leaves, flowers, fruits, shrubs, grasses and roots. An adult elephant may eat up to 170kg of food, drink 90 L of water, and produce up to 75 kg of faeces per day.

Herds of Asian Elephants occasionally feed on fruit trees growing on plantations bordering the forests, causing thousands of dollars of damage. In order to prevent this guards patrol the boundaries of farms and use spotlights and fire crackers to scare the Elephants away.

At Melbourne Zoo the Asian Elephants are fed carrots, apples, bread, bamboo, hay, lucerne, and leaves.

Did you know?

  • The female Asian Elephant reaches sexual maturity at 10 years of age.
  • Elephant tusks are a modified form of upper incisors; the front teeth that many animals use for cutting food.
  • The ears of the Asian Elephant assist in cooling the animal. Heat is circulated to blood vessels located close to the skin of the ears and is diffused into the air.
  • The trunk of the Asian Elephant is used for feeding, watering, smelling, touching, communicating, lifting, dusting and fighting.
  • The trunk of an Asian Elephant can hold up to 8.5 L of water

Our Elephants

  • Mek Kapah (Beautiful Pearl) - Female dob 1973
  • Bong Su (the Youngest Child) - Male dob 1974
  • Dokkoon (Thailands National Flower) - Female dob 1993
  • Kulab (Rose) - Female dob 2000
  • Namoi (Sugar Cane Juice) - Female dob 2001
Class
Mammalia
Order

Proboscidae

Family

Elephantidae

Species Name
Elephas maximus
Status

Endangered