Smaller ears
The quickest way to tell an Asian elephant from an African one is its much smaller ears.
Asian jungle
Asian elephant
Elephas maximus
Smaller than the African elephant, with small ears, a domed head and a rounded back.
- Size
- Up to 3m at the shoulder
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Forests of India, Sri Lanka and south-east Asia
Strides after you, trunk swinging. Move your pointer and see.
When to look
Asian elephant
Good to know
Six things about the asian elephant
Not all have tusks
Only some males have tusks. Females have small tushes that hardly show.
One finger
The tip of the trunk has one finger, where the African elephant has two.
Led by a grandmother
A herd is made up of mothers, aunts and calves, led by the oldest female.
Big appetite
An elephant eats about 150 kilograms of plants a day, and spends most of its time feeding.
Knowing itself
Elephants recognise themselves in a mirror, which very few animals can do.
The real thing
Photos of the asian elephant
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Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the free licences shown. They have been resized, and cropped where they appear in link previews.
How to spot one
In Sri Lanka's Minneriya park, hundreds of elephants gather at the lake in the dry season. Look for them at forest edges in the evening.
How to help
Asian elephants are endangered, mostly because their forest is cut up by farms. Avoid elephant rides and shows, and choose places that let you watch wild herds.
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