Asian elephants are those distributed throughout Southeast Asia, from India to Borneo. With its immense size and strength, this largest living animal has played an important role in our economies, religions and culture.
By nature, Asian elephants are extremely sociable animals that form groups of six to seven individuals. Most of their time is spent feeding on grasses, but they also eat tree bark, roots, leaves, and small stems besides cultivated crops like bananas and sugar cane. They prefer staying close to sources of fresh water.
Although suitable habitats exist for this species, Asian elephants are still endangered. In India, the biggest threat is habitat loss.
In general, these elephants face the great risk of poaching too. Their tusks are the main reason why they are hunted. They are captured alive to be used as tourist attractions or sometimes, to be used in circuses and other inhumane entertainments. Different countries have taken different legal measures to protect their elephant species. Trading in ivory and elephant hunting is illegal in most countries.
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