Asian elephant

A thousand-year companion — the wise giant of the forests

The Asian elephant is smaller than the African one, with smaller ears and a rounded back. These elephants have lived alongside people for 4,000 years — hauling logs and walking in festivals. They recognise themselves in a mirror, cry, and remember friends who have died. An elephant can even learn to paint with its trunk! In Thailand, India and Sri Lanka it is sacred.

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) lives in 13 countries from India to Borneo; it is smaller than the African elephant (3 m, 5 t), with smaller ears, one 'finger' at the tip of its trunk (the African has two), and most females and some males have no tusks. It is more closely related to the mammoth than to the African elephant. Its 5 kg brain is the largest of any land animal; it passes the mirror test and uses tools; it was tamed 4,000 years ago (but never domesticated — each generation was caught wild). Its range has shrunk 95%; 40,000–50,000 remain, 60% in India. Human-elephant conflict is the main problem — 400 people and 100 elephants die each year. Tourist rides harm them — 'ethical' elephant sanctuaries are now growing.

Fun facts

• The Asian elephant is more closely related to the mammoth than to the African elephant!
• An elephant's brain weighs 5 kg — the biggest on land.
• Elephants recognise themselves in a mirror — only apes, dolphins and humans can too.