# Asian Elephant (*Elephas maximus*)

> The Asian elephant is the largest land animal in Asia, weighing up to 5,500 kg (12,000 lb) with smaller ears than African elephants and a single 'finger' on the trunk tip. Highly social and intelligent, wild populations are Endangered from habitat loss and human conflict.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Endangered
- **Range:** Fragmented populations in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/asian-elephant/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Proboscidea
- **Family:** Elephantidae
- **Genus:** Elephas

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Elephas maximus |
| Diet | Herbivore — grasses, bark, roots, fruit, and crops |
| Habitat | Tropical forests and grasslands across South and Southeast Asia |
| Lifespan | 60–70 years in the wild |
| Weight | Females 2,700 kg; males up to 5,500 kg |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in charge |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |

## Social structure

Asian elephant herds are matriarchal, led by the oldest female and composed of related females and young. Adult males are mostly solitary or form loose bachelor groups. Communication includes infrasonic rumbles, touch, and scent.

## Asian vs African elephants

Asian elephants have smaller ears, a twin-domed head, and only males typically carry visible tusks (tuskless males are common). African elephants have larger ears shaped like the continent, larger size, and both sexes may have tusks.

## Human–elephant conflict

As forests shrink, elephants raid crops and villages, leading to retaliatory killing and accidents on roads and railways. Sumatran and Bornean subspecies face acute habitat pressure from palm oil and logging.

## Conservation

Fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants may remain in the wild, fragmented across 13 range countries. Corridors linking protected areas, conflict mitigation, and anti-poaching efforts are central to recovery.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many Asian elephants are left?

Estimates suggest fewer than 50,000 in the wild, with populations fragmented across India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Sumatra.

### Do female Asian elephants have tusks?

Most females are tuskless or have small tushes. Males may have prominent tusks, but tuskless males are common in some populations.

### Asian elephant vs African elephant?

Asian elephants are smaller, have smaller ears, a different head shape, and typically only males grow large tusks. African savanna elephants are larger with bigger ears.

### Are Asian elephants endangered?

Yes — Endangered on the IUCN Red List, mainly from habitat loss, fragmentation, and conflict with people.

### What do Asian elephants eat?

Up to 150 kg of vegetation daily — grasses, leaves, bark, fruit, and cultivated crops when they overlap with farmland.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Elephas maximus.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Elephas%20maximus&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Elephas maximus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Elephas_maximus/)
- [Wikipedia — Asian Elephant.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_elephant)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/asian-elephant/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.