INDIAN ELEPHANT
Local name : Hathi, Hasti, Gajraj
Physical measurements & life cycle:
Length : 5.5-6.4 m
Weight : up to 5000 kg
Height : 2.75-3.00 m
Maturity : 10 years
Gestation : 22 months
Litter size : 1 (rarely 2).
Life span : 60-80 years
Breeding : Beginning of monsoon when temperature is high or weather is hot.
Description
Elephant is the largest living mammal on land. The male m have large tusks. The colour of the elephant's body is dark grey Its nose is modified into trunk.
Food
Herbivorous. Consumes various kinds of grasses, leaves and branches of wild plants of bamb0o, bark etc.
Distribution
Exterminated from the state. In the past, this mammal existed in the forested areas of Pavagadh and Rajpipla.
Habitat
Elephants inhabit hilly forests bearing tall trees and bamboo.
Behaviour :
Crepuscular. The elephants usually live in a family group. In hot weather, they move in dense forests. In rainy season, a group of elephants comes in an open area. The herd comes out in early morning for feeding. It rests in the noon.
Signs of presence:
Trumpeting sound, sound of breaking of twigs while feeding
Usually only male elephants have long tusks. However, some males have smaller tusks that are as short as those of female elephants. Such males are called "makhanas" and they can be huge and can have very long trunks. Asiatic elephants that occur in India have trunks that end up on in a single lip, whereas those of African elephants end up in two lips. Total estimated population of elephants in India
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