India's Endangered Animal Species - I

Indian Elephant


Indian Elephants are predominantly nomadic in nature and in a herd in or around a jungle. They prefer areas with abundance vegetation and water.

The global population of elephants is 55,000, of which 15,000-16,000 are in captivity. There are approximately 25,000 elephants in India and 28% of them live in captivity.

Indian elephants are losing their habitat due to:

1. Illegal encroaching by farmers, miners, timber merchants and villagers (pre-dominantly cultivators) on the natural habitat in the form of forest areas reserved for the elephants.
2. Poachers, illegally kill the elephants for the great value of elephant tusks/ivory, bones, skins etc in the market
3. Migration an annual phenomenon, in which the elephants move to places with favourable environmental conditions. Usually they follow the same route annually, but due to human encroachment or such obstacles become inevitable cause of harm to the animals.
4. Pollution and diseases due to introduction of exotic species of other animals in their habitat.

Migration(VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION)

1.	Both Asian and African elephants migrate and generally follow the same migratory routes annually. Migration distances vary considerably depending on environmental conditions. Studies documenting Asian elephants in deciduous forests of southern India, with numerous water sources, reported elephant migration to extend between 20 and 50 km (12 and 31 mi.).
2.	Elephants usually migrate at the beginning of the dry season, heading toward more hospitable locations near rivers and water sources that are not prone to drying. When the rainy season arrives,elephant herds return to native regions to feed on the lush, green vegetation the rains helped regenerate. Elephant migration allows time for the re—growth of vegetation in exhausted grazing areas.
3.	Elephant migrations occur in one of the following three ways. The migration method depends on environmental conditions.
	• Individual family groups separate themselves from the larger herd. This method may be used in response to limited food supplies encountered during a dry season migration. If food sources are scarce along the migratory route, it is more efficient to travel as individual families, rather than large herds. Family groups traveling in this manner are generally led by a dominant female at the front of the group and another at the back, to guard the rear. The young travel between the dominant females for protection and supervision. • Several family groups, usually between two and five, may form a larger group called bond groups for migration. Bond groups provide additional security due to more sets of watchful eyes. Females share leadership and supervisory responsibilities based on age, experience, and temperament. These groups require more food resources along the migratory route but benefit from increased protection. • Occasionally, entire populations of elephant herds join together in mass migration, with estimates as high as 500 individuals reported. This method provides maximum protection for herds but food resources must be present along the migratory route in sufficient quantity. Kingdom: Animalia Scientific Name: Elephas maximus indicus Class: Mammalia Family: Elephantidae Species: E. maximus Subspecies: E. m. indicus Length: 216 inches to 252 inches Weight: 7000 lbs to 11000 lbs Age of Maturity: Twelve years Gestation Period: 630 days to 660 days Number of Offspring: One Lifespan: 60 years to 80 years Maximum Speed: 25 mph Vision: 30 ft to 60 ft Length of Tusks: Upto 5 ft National Parks: Periyar National Park (Kerala) Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park(Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) Organizations Working to Save Indian Elephants India Tiger Welfare Society (ITWS) http://www.indiantiger.org/contact-us.html People for Animals http://forum.peopleforanimalsindia.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=72 Wildlife Trust of India http://www.wti.org.in/ International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFWA) http://www.wti.org.in/pages/ifaw.htm World Wildlife Fund (WWF) www.wwf.org India Project for Animaks and Nature (IPAN) http://www.gcci.org/ipan/loki/save_loki.html Acknowledgement: Wikipedia http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/elephants/habitat-&-distribution.htm http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/node/19903 Wildlife Conservation India (WCI) http://www.indianwildlifetours.com/wildlife-conservation-india/wildlife-conservation-india.html CUPA, Bangalore