Asian Elephant
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- Category: Science
- Date Submitted: 08/11/2011 11:05 PM
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Asian Elephant: An Endangered Species
Abstract
The Asian Elephant also known by its scientific name the Elephas Maximus is an endangered species. 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 Asian elephant is one of the last few mega-herbivores still in existence on earth (Owen-Smith, 1988). These elephants are highly intelligent and live long lives but due to loss of habitat and hunting their numbers have decreased. To help conserve the Asian Elephant it is protected under appendix I of CITES.
The Asian Elephant has been worshipped for centuries and is still used today for ceremonial and religious purposes. Although honored for its role in Asian culture and religion it is also a key biological species in the tropical forests of Asia (WWF, n.d). This animal is threatened with extinction in the wild. While the human population is increasing the Asian Elephant’s habitat is shrinking fast.
The Asian elephant is the largest terrestrial mammal in Asia. It is smaller than the African elephant, with relatively smaller ears. Asian elephants have a single finger on the upper lip of their trunk. Only some male Asian elephants carry tusks and females have small tushes, which rarely show. A significant number of adult males are tusk less, and the percentage of males carrying ivory varies by region, from only about 5% in Sri Lanka to 90% in south India (About Elephants, n.d.). Asian elephants keep their ears in constant motion in order to radiate the heat they generate and therefore cool themselves. The species are reported to have well developed hearing, vision, and olfaction, and are also fine swimmers. Their body length varies from 550-640cm, their shoulder height is from 250-300cm, and they weigh 5,000kg. Their skin color is dark grey to brown, with patches of pink on the forehead, the ears,...
Abstract
The Asian Elephant also known by its scientific name the Elephas Maximus is an endangered species. 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 Asian elephant is one of the last few mega-herbivores still in existence on earth (Owen-Smith, 1988). These elephants are highly intelligent and live long lives but due to loss of habitat and hunting their numbers have decreased. To help conserve the Asian Elephant it is protected under appendix I of CITES.
The Asian Elephant has been worshipped for centuries and is still used today for ceremonial and religious purposes. Although honored for its role in Asian culture and religion it is also a key biological species in the tropical forests of Asia (WWF, n.d). This animal is threatened with extinction in the wild. While the human population is increasing the Asian Elephant’s habitat is shrinking fast.
The Asian elephant is the largest terrestrial mammal in Asia. It is smaller than the African elephant, with relatively smaller ears. Asian elephants have a single finger on the upper lip of their trunk. Only some male Asian elephants carry tusks and females have small tushes, which rarely show. A significant number of adult males are tusk less, and the percentage of males carrying ivory varies by region, from only about 5% in Sri Lanka to 90% in south India (About Elephants, n.d.). Asian elephants keep their ears in constant motion in order to radiate the heat they generate and therefore cool themselves. The species are reported to have well developed hearing, vision, and olfaction, and are also fine swimmers. Their body length varies from 550-640cm, their shoulder height is from 250-300cm, and they weigh 5,000kg. Their skin color is dark grey to brown, with patches of pink on the forehead, the ears,...