MONARCH OF MAMMALS

Hello Readers!

Every animals in the earth have some unique features in it. In that feature, it is the king. Even, if you go to temple, there will be a creature waiting to bless you in the gateway. We wish to ride on it, and to get blessed, but we may be scared. Including children, it is the favourite animal of all of us. We are going to see such an animal, "ELEPHANT'.

Generally, elephants have two distinct species. One is African Elephants and the other one is Asian Elephants. Both are similar in size, appearance and social behaviour. African elephants are the biggest mammals on land and the Asian elephants on the second. In both species, Male elephants are bigger than the female. They will be growing throughout their life. The ears of African Elephants are larger than the Asian Elephants. The ears of African Elephants resemble the projected part of african continent and the ears of Asian Elephants resembles one half of indian country. Their tusks too grow throughout their lifetime. The tusks of Asian Elephants are slight bigger than African Elephants. In both species, tuskless elephants are also found. The trunk edge of the African Elephants will have two finger-like projection structure, whereas, the Asian Elephants will have only one finger-like projection structure. The forelegs of Asian elephants have 5 toenails, and has 4 toenails in its hindlegs. The forelegs of African elephants have 4 toenails, and has 3-4 toenails in its hindlegs. Elephants will eat 150 kg of food and drink 200 litres of water each day. Its trunk can store 10 litres of water. It will set up its habitat according to the abundance of food and water. Generally, female elephants will live in group with its calves. Male elephants, after reaching adulthood, leave the herd, and live with other bull elephants. They will be in solitary during musth.

Now, its time to see a short note on African Elephants. They weighs from 4 to 7 tonnes. It can grow high from 8 to 14 feet. These species are primarily a grazer. The gestation period is 659 days or 22 months ± 30 days or 1 month. Its interbirth interval is 3-5 years. It has two subspecies namely, L.a. cyclotis (forest elephant) and L.a. africana (savanna elephant). African Elephants has its total population of 3,00,000 to 5,00,000.

Next, Asian Elephants. It weighs from 3 to 7 tonnes. It can grow high from 7 to 12 feet. They were mostly seen in South West Asia. They are primarily a browser. The gestation period for also Asian is 659 days or 22 months ± 30 days or 1 month. Once, there were many number of elephants in Western Asia too. As the forests there continued to be destroyed, they moved to southeast. Asian Elephants has its total population of 30,000 to 50,000. Out of it, India has 60% of elephants.

Elephants too described in Tamil Sangam Literatures. Elephants also have seasonal names, just like humans. They were, கயந்தலை, போதகம், துடியடி, களபம், கயமுனி. Female elephants have another names. They were, பிடி, அதவை, வடவை, கரிணி, அத்தினி.

Elephants were praised and noted as an example in some literatures. The notable lines are, 

ஆணம் உடைய அறிவினார் தந்நலம்

மானும் அறிவி னவரைத் தலைப்படுத்தல்

மானமர் கண்ணாய்! மறங்கெழு மாமன்னர்

‘யானையால் யானையாத் தற்று’.

                                   

                                        - பழமொழி நானூறு 

வினையான் வினையாக்கிக் கோடல் நனைகவுள்

யானையால் யானையாத் தற்று.

                                        - திருக்குறள்

Though the number of elephants were high, they were hunted cruely for tusks. In 1960, it was estimated that there were 13 lakh african elephants. In 1980s and 1990s, they were hunted cruely only for tusks. A single tusk of an elephant weighs 30 kgs. The estimated cost of 1 kg tusk is 15,000 to 50,000 at that time. In 1980, 1,00,000 african elephants were hunted which is much bigger number. Till 1990, tusk trade was legal in India. After that, it was announced as illegal to save elephants and to increase their breeding. It is noted that only 10% of Asian elephants when compared to African Elephants. The main reason behind it is continuous deforestation. For past 8 years, 655 elephants were killed in India. We were very poor in saving elephants, though we have 29 elephant reserves across the country. By reading this, we should also have to save the wild animals by keeping their habitats untouched!

"Know the Unknown"

- ShanKeth & KisHor