Context: TEAM of researchers from the Bengaluru-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has found that the Indian elephant migrated from the north to the south over many millennia and lost their genetic diversity progressively with each southward migration.
Key facts about Asian elephant:
- The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is the largest mammal living on the land of Asia, and occupies the Southern and Southeastern parts of the continent.
- This species ranges from northern India to the southern tip of the Sumatran islands.
- Asian elephants have three subspecies, based on their distribution and characteristics.
- Indian Elephant
- Sumatran Elephant
- Si Lankan Elephant
Key facts about Indian Elephant:
- Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) is the most widespread of the three subspecies.
- Other countries where they can be found are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- They are declared as India’s National Heritage Animal.
- The elephant is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List and included in Appendix I of CITES.
Note:
IUCN Status of Sumatran Elephant – Critically endangered
IUCN Status of Sri Lankan Elephant - Endangered
- Elephant in general are known as ‘gardener of forests’.
- They are Keystone species as many trees and plants are known to rely on elephants for pollination and seed dispersal.
- They are ecosystem engineers, clearing large areas of vegetation, opening up habitats and creating space for new growth.
- Asian Elephants are highly intelligent and lead complex social lives. They live in groups of 6-7 related females, and these are led by the eldest female or the ‘matriarch’.
- Asian Elephants are a generalist species, living in a wide variety of habitats from grasslands to forests, including tropical evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forest, dry-thorn forest and cultivated and secondary forests. They will wander over hundreds of kilometres and need very large areas of suitable habitat.
Difference between Asian and African elephant:
