Elephants are the largest existing land animals and there are three recognized species: African bush elephants, African forest elephants, and Asian elephants. They are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Elephants are herbivores that can live up to 70 years in the wild. They are intelligent animals that live in family groups led by the oldest female, known as the matriarch. African and Asian elephants differ in features like ear size and trunk finger number. Elephant Day aims to raise awareness of threats like poaching, habitat destruction, and habitat fragmentation faced by African and Asian elephant species.

1. Done by
Sneha C
Department of Forestry
Sir Syed College, Taliparamba

2. About elephants….
• Largest existing land animals
• Family ’Elephantidae’
• Three species are recognised
– African bush elephant
– African forest elephant
– Asian elephant

3. Distribution
• throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia,
and Southeast Asia

4. Evolution

5. Facts
• Herbivores
• Live up to 70 years in wild
• Intelligent animals
• Live in groups- comprising of females and calves
• Leader of the group-oldest female- Matriarch
• Trunk is used to drink, smell, pick up food, touch an communicate

6. African vs Asian
African elephants Asian elephants
Larger ears Smaller ears
Concave back Convex or level back
Wrinkled skin Smoother skin
Sloping abdomen Horizontal abdomen
Two ‘fingers ‘at the tip
of the trunk
One ‘finger ‘at the tip
of the trunk

7. Why Elephant day??
• African elephants - vulnerable to extinction
• Asian elephants - endangered

8. Threats
• Poaching for their ivory, meat and hides
• Habitat destruction
• Fragmentation

9. Project Elephant
• launched in 1992 by the Government of India
– To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
– To address issues of man-animal conflict
– For the welfare of captive elephants

10. Reference : www.google.com