Elephants have long been associated with a variety of things we humans find admirable: longevity, long memory, strength, power, intelligence, wisdom, and dignity.
Their enormous size and strength makes them a fascinating subject for young and old and the fact that the Asian Elephant is found only on that continent turns them into a rather exotic attraction.
Asian Elephants in History
Ancient Asian societies often used elephants as their “work horses”, helping them to move heavy objects long before modern machinery was invented.
It was four thousand years ago that they were first domesticated and put to work. They were quite plentiful at that time, as can be inferred by the name of Lan Xang, an ancient Asian kingdom translated as “land of a million elephants”.
Since that time they have played a role in wars, industry, and even as personal companions. There are still some very rural locations in Asia where the elephant continues to do the heavy lifting today.
About the Asian Elephant
There are many differences between the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and the African elephant (Loxodonta Africana). The Asian elephant has smaller ears and less wrinkles in its skin along with an arched back and prehensile trunk. In this way they are better equipped to deal with the colder temperatures of Asia and are more agile.
There are four sub-species of Asian elephants; these include the Malaysia, Sri Lankan, Sumatran, and Indian. Each sub-species enjoys slight variations based on their distinctive environments. Current research is being done to determine if there is a fifth species that inhabits areas of Vietnam and Laos.
The majority of wild elephant herds are located in Northern Laos, amongst the thick forests and remote wilderness; there are also populations of matriarchal herds found in Thailand and Vietnam.
The sub-tropical region of Xishuangbanna along the southern border of China is another natural habitat of the Asian elephant.
Because of mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse by humans the population of Asian elephants has been greatly reduced. In Thailand the animals are revered although even the city of Bangkok has now prohibited parading them through the city as a means of transportation such as occurred quite often in the old days. Asian elephants are currently considered a threatened species and action is being taken to prevent the remaining population from declining.
Asian Elephants are a popular zoo and wildlife park attraction. For thousands of years, humans have been fascinated by these giant, yet gentle, creatures.
Find out more about why elephants are endangered and what is being done to save them.