SCIENTIFIC NAME : Elephas maximus indicus WEIGHT : around 11,000 pounds LENGTH : around 21 feet POPULATION : Fewer than 50,000 PLACES : Eastern Himalayas, Greater Mekong HABITATS : Forests | Elephants are an important cultural icon in Asia. According to Hindu mythology, the gods (deva) and the demons (asura) churned the oceans in a search for the elixir of life so that they would become immortal. As they did so, nine jewels surfaced, one of which was the elephant. In Hinduism, the powerful deity honored before all sacred rituals is the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha, who is also called the Remover of Obstacles.Asian elephants are extremely sociable, forming groups of six to seven related females that are led by the oldest female, the matriarch. Like African elephants, these groups occasionally join others to form herds, although these associations are relatively transient. |
