Asian elephant

Asian elephants are the largest land animals in Asia, smaller than their African relatives but no less fascinating. These intelligent and sociable creatures live in family groups, typically led by the oldest female.

Their long trunks are both powerful and delicate, allowing them to forage for a variety of foods, including grasses, tree bark, roots, and leaves. These remarkable animals can spend up to two-thirds of their day feeding. Their tusks serve multiple purposes: digging, stripping bark from trees, and even defending against threats. While not all male Asian elephants have tusks, both sexes can develop tushes, small incisor teeth that protrude from their lower lips.

Asian elephants have smaller ears than their African counterparts, which help regulate their body temperature. Their trunks are not only sophisticated tools for feeding but also feature a "finger" at the end, enabling them to grasp small objects. In contrast, African elephants have two fingers on their trunks.

Gestation in elephants lasts an astonishing 22 months—the longest of any mammal! Female elephants give birth to one calf every two to four years.