Male Asian Elephants are hunted for their tusks, and their numbers are becoming smaller. Hunting them is forbidden, but their trouble goes on.
Body length: 5.5-6.4m
Tail length: 120-150cm
Weight: 2-5t
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
They live in the plains and forests of India and Sri Lanka.
They eat grass and plant roots, fruit, and tree bark. They have to eat a lot every day, because their bodies are so big.
Asian Elephants are very clever, so people have used them as helpers from long ago. They can even do math!
Male elephants were hunted for their tusks
This is why the number of Asian elephants has become so small The tusks were used for many things: crafts, stamps, and piano keys. These days, hunting Asian elephants is forbidden, but people still hunt them – they're called "poachers" –
Are Asian elephants and people against each other?
The forests where the Asian elephants live are becoming smaller and smaller. The trees get cut down, and the forests are becoming farmland. And the living spaces of the elephants and people are getting closer together. There is still trouble between the Asian Elephants and people. Sometimes Asian Elephants kill crops, and humans kill the Asian Elephants for stepping on their land.
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