Skip to Content
Home

Asian Elephant

Local name: 
Gajah
Scientific name: 

Elephus maximus sumatranus

Status: 
Critically Endangered

Asian Elephant

 

Distribution: Asian elephants formerly ranged from west Asia along the Iranian coast into the Indian subcontinent, eastwards into Southeast Asia including Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, and into China. They now survive in fragmented populations in South and Southeast Asia. The Sumatran subspecies is now only found in highly fragmented populations in Sumatra.

Population size:

Very little information on the population size of Asian elephants exists although it is expected that all of the subspecies have been in decline, probably for centuries.

Characteristics:

The Asian Elephant has a shoulder height of 2-3m and can weigh up to 5,000kg. They are slightly smaller than their African cousin with smaller rounded ears. Asian elephants constantly move their ears in order to cool themselves down. They have excellent hearing, vision and sense of smell and are good swimmers.
Habitat:

Asian elephants are generalists and can be found in many different types of habitats, including open grassland, tropical evergreen forest, deciduous forests, secondary forest and scrubland.

Ecology:

Asian elephants are herbivores and eat roots, grasses, fruit and bark. They have a lifespan of up to 60 years. Adult females (cows) live in family herds with their offspring but males (bulls) will roam on their own. A cow generally gives birth to one calf every 2-4 years.
Threats:

Conflict between humans and elephants is the biggest threat to the Asian Elephant in Sumatra. This is due to the dramatic clearance of much of their habitat. Elephants pushed out of their ranges resort to raiding farmland and plantations, which can lead to them being captured or killed. Poaching of elephants for ivory, bushmeat and hides is also considered to have caused a reduction in numbers of this species.

At Harapan Rainforest:

Harapan Rainforest has a population of Asian Elephant in the south and west of the site. We are currently applying for funding to conduct research on their population size, movements and habitat preferences so we can assist in the conservation management of this species.
Interesting facts:
  • The trunk of an Asian Elephant contains approximately 100,000 muscles.
  • Elephants have the longest pregnancy of any mammal at 22 months.
  • One adult elephant can eat up to 136kg of food in one day.