Elephant
Category : 12th Class
Elephants are chiefly found in forests with tall trees where bamboo’s grow in profusion. They have very poor sight but sense of hearing and smell is highly developed.
Feeding : Daily food intake is considerable, but only partially digested and utilization is low. Natural food includes bamboo shoots, leaves and various fruits. Working elephant are fed straw, hay and crushed grain as a supplement.
Breeding : Puberty occurs at between 8 and 12 years. The gestation period is \[2122\] months. The calving interval is 4 years. Elephants may live for up to 90-100 years. Elephants are of two types : African elephants and Indian elephants.
Differences between Indian Elephant and African Elephant
|
S.No. |
|
Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) |
African elephant (Laxodonta africana) |
|
1. |
Physical Features |
Small ears, High domed forehead with 2 prominance on top of skull. One process on trunk tip Convex backed. Tusks in males only, not always |
Large ears convex sloping forehead. |
|
2. |
Mature at |
25 years |
25 years |
|
3. |
Weight at maturity |
Male 3000 kg |
Male 6000 kg |
|
4. |
Geographical distribution |
Ceylon, India, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia |
East, Central and West Africa |
|
5. |
Uses |
Timber extraction and log moving in forested areas |
Very limited. In small area of Zaire, used for timber transport. |
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