The Elephant is the largest mammal to be found on the surface of the Earth. Most of them have a very thick black or gray color skin. Their skin helps them to keep their body cool. Another amazing feature of the elephant is that they have a trunk, which can be used as a nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device, as a tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, as well as digging.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Super family: Elephantoidea
Family: Elephantidae
Average lifetime of the elephant has been measured as 70 years. Little baby elephants are almost like a human baby in their behavior. An impregnated female elephant takes close to 22 months to carry a baby elephant to term. After the birth, the baby elephant is expected to learn many things for it to survive in the wild. They have to learn how to use their trunk to get food and water and how to wash their body and so many other things.
Senses of Elephants
When we consider the senses of human beings we have the senses based on the life time experience. It almost depends on what we see, hear and smell. Our senses play a huge role in determining the world around us. Nevertheless, when we consider this large animal, their world is much different from our world. An elephant typically does not have far-reaching eyesight as humans do. However, they have a stronger sense of smell than we do.
Why We Need to Save this Mammal?
Elephants are a unique and valuable animal who roam the same world we live in. Elephants are sometimes seen to represent power and peace. Asian elephants have participated in many historical events. The kings who reigned in the Asian countries chose the biggest, most magnificent elephants for royal ceremonies and processions. In the past, elephants were used to transport goods and people but in the present, we use this animal as a tourist attraction and also for traditional festivals.
Today, we have to protect these elephants from ivory traders and poachers. Any one who wishes to trade with ivory jewelries helps to kill these elephants. The next time you think of buying jewelry made of ivory, think twice about it. Help to protect this highly emotional and strong animal for our future world.
Sri Lankan Elephant
In Sri Lankan terms we call the elephant as “Aliya” or “Etha”. They are very familiar animals for people in Sri Lanka. They represent a very large national value to us as well. The Sri Lankan elephant is somewhat different to the African elephant. Firstly, it has much smaller ears than its African cousins.
The Elephant in Sri Lanka play a vital role in the “Kandy Esala Perahera” wiki. In this traditional event, impressively decorated elephant’s proceed through the streets of the city of Kandy.
Another fact regarding elephants in Sri Lanka is the very famous elephant orphanage at “Pinnawala”. This orphanage is the home to about 60 elephants including elephant calves found abandoned in the wild. You can see many Sri Lankan elephants at “Pinnawala”, “Udawalawe”, “Yala national park”, “Habarana”, “Dambulla”, “Sigiriya”, “Maduruoya”, “Wasgomuwa”, “Lahugala”, “Galloya”, “Inginiyagala” and “Thanamalwila”.