Asian Elephant
On the Asian continent, the Asian elephant is the biggest terrestrial mammal. In 13
range countries covering South and Southeast Asia, they live in dry to wet forest and
grassland settings. While Asian elephants favor forage plants, they have evolved to
survive on a variety of resources depending on their environment.Asian elephants are
particularly social animals, establishing groups of six to seven related females
commanded by the matriarch, the oldest female. These groups, like African elephants,
occasionally join together to create bigger herds, but these partnerships are usually
short-lived. Elephant herd sizes in Asia are far less than savannah elephant herds in
Africa.An elephant may spend more than two-thirds of its day on grasses, but it also
consumes significant amounts of tree bark, roots, leaves, and short branches. Bananas,
rice, and sugarcane are some of the most popular crops. Elephants must drink at least
once a day, thus they are always near a source of fresh water.Over many years in Asia,
people have had strong relationships with elephants, and elephants have become major
cultural icons. The gods (deva) and devils (asura) churned the waters in quest of the
elixir of life so that they may become eternal, according to Hindu mythology. Nine gems
appeared as they did so, one of which was the elephant. The elephant-headed Lord
Ganesha, also known as the Remover of Obstacles, is the mighty god worshipped
before all holy rites in Hinduism.Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation; unlawful
killing (for ivory and other goods or in retribution for human-elephant conflicts); and
genetic viability loss due to small population size and isolation are the most serious
risks to Asian elephants. As a result, Asian elephants currently only occupy around 10%
of their former habitat, and many of the surviving populations are tiny and
isolated.Though it's impossible to quantify elephants in the wild, the wild Asian
population is believed to be between 37,000 and 48,000 animals, down from hundreds
of thousands before the turn of the century. Despite this, around 16,000 Asian elephants
are maintained in captivity in 11 Asian nations, due to an ancient cultural practice. The
Asian elephant is the only endangered big animal in this condition. There are
approximately three times as many elephants in Thailand's domestication as there are
in the wild.In 1988, the African Elephant Conservation Act was enacted. This statute
empowers the US government to prosecute illicit ivory imports and enables federal
financing for elephant conservation programs in the field. Elephant ivory imports are
prohibited in the United States under the terms of this legislation. However, ivory from
African elephants acquired before the prohibition remains allowed to buy, sell, and
transport.In 1997, the Asian Elephant Conservation Act was approved. This law
encourages and funds conservation efforts throughout the range of Asian elephants.By
conserving elephants, we are also conserving the habitats of other species. Asian
elephants contribute to the conservation of forest and grassland ecosystems. Because
of their huge size, they are able to build paths in dense woods, allowing other species to
pass through.Elephants contribute to the conservation of forest and savanna habitats
for other species, and they are intrinsically linked to a diverse biodiversity. Elephants
play a crucial role in ecosystem engineering. They create paths in densely wooded
areas that allow other animals to get through.