The Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant (scientific name elephas maximus indicus) is a subspecies of elephant that inhabits the forests of the Greater Mekong and the Eastern Himalayas. It can stand between 6.5 and 11.5 feet tall, grow around 21 feet long, and weigh around 11,000 pounds. Even though it can spend two-thirds of its day eating grass, its favorite foods are actually cultivated crops, such as rice, banana, and sugarcane. It also eats large amounts of roots, leaves, tree bark, and small stems. It is always close to a source of fresh water because it must drink at least once a day. It is extremely sociable by nature, with six to seven related females forming groups headed by the oldest. These groups, like those of the African elephant, occasionally join together to form herds, though only temporarily.

The Asian elephant is classified as an Endangered species. It is this close to becoming extinct for two reasons. The first reason is that its habitat has become fragmented, thus making its herds unable to mate with each other. Because of this, one of the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF's) efforts to save it consists of reconnecting its habitat by restoring the biological corridors between the various fragments of its habitat. The second reason is that it is killed for its skin and ivory, as well as in retaliation for eating all a farm's crops. Because of this, another one of the WWF's efforts to save it consists of training, equipping, and supporting the staff that patrol its protected areas. All of this is being done because a future for it also ensures a future for other species, as well as wild spaces.

Source for picture and all information: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/asian-elephant