Elephants are incredible – strong enough to move massive objects yet nimble enough to pick up a blade of grass. Learn more about this amazing animal while viewing photos of them from across the world.
Elephants are incredible – strong enough to move massive objects yet nimble enough to pick up a blade of grass. Learn more about this amazing animal while viewing photos of them from across the world.
The Buenos Aires Zoo in Argentina has three female elephants living in a complex that resembles an Indian temple. Pupy and Kuki are African and this one is Mara, an Asian elephant. Born in 1969, she is the oldest and was abused at the Rodas circus before coming here in 1996. The zoo started in the Palermo district in 1875 and today has over 2,500 animals on 45 acres.
Taronga Zoo Sydney and its sister facility, Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, are justifiably proud of their breeding program for Asian elephants. The first one born in Australia was Luk Chai (Son) in 2009. The following year, the Sydney keepers announced the first female, Tukta (Doll). Also in 2010, Pathi Harn (Miracle) arrived in Sydney. Finally, in 2016, Sabai joined the Western Plain’s herd. The two zoos collectively manage about a dozen Asian elephants.
Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088, Australia
Curiously, the Asian elephants at the Antwerp Zoo are housed in the Egyptian Temple, but this enormous, wrinkled animal is native of India, Sri Lanka or Sumatra. I am fascinated by elephants and love to shoot close-up photos like this one to reveal their character. Just look at his wonderful expression. This Belgium Zoo is home to over 5000 animals and 950 species.
As the world’s largest land mammal, everything about an African elephant is big. For example, they can stand 13 feet tall, weigh up to 13,000 pounds and have ears that are 70 by 45 inches. Even their lashes are long. However, their eyes are very small resulting in poor sight and peripheral vision. This is one of four elephants at the Oakland Zoo in California.
This male Asian elephant is named Ranchipur. He is one of six that enjoy the 2.4 acre exhibit built for them at the San Diego Zoo in California, which includes a 37,000 gallon pool. They also have one African elephant. Only 40,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants live in the wild. The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey exhibit also showcases the evolution and extension of animals in Southern California including fossils.
2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
This Asian elephant provides rides for the delight of tourists. However, when Bayon in the background was built in the late 12th century, elephants had several critical roles. The beasts of burden were used for labor, war and transportation. The gates into Angkor Thom were large enough to accommodate a procession of soldiers or royalty riding on the backs of their elephants. The man in the photo is the elephant’s keeper called a mahout. The carriage or bench on the animal’s back is a howdah.
Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Angkor, Cambodia
The Asiatic elephant is the biggest land mammal in Southeast Asia – males can exceed nine feet tall – yet they are smaller than their African counterparts. This female in the Asia section of the Zoo Miami was demonstrating her versatile skills while playing with bamboo and a large concrete ball. The trunk contains over 60,000 muscles. It is sensitive enough to pick up a single blade of hay and strong enough to move objects over 650 pounds.
The elephant is the world’s largest land animal but this Asian one is slightly smaller than the African species, assuming that a three to six ton mammal can be called smaller. It has a very distinctive and useful physical feature: its trunk. There are about 60,000 muscles in this six foot nose and at the end is a small, finger-like extension. This tool is strong enough to push down a tree yet agile enough to pick up a blade of grass. This Asian elephant is one of five females at the Nairobi section of Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.
10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612
This is one of four female Asian elephants living at Tierpark Hellabrunn in Munich, Germany, with birth years ranging from 1966 to 2001, plus one male that was born at the zoo in 2011. Typically, they are a gray, but she is sand colored after giving herself a through dusting in order to stay cool and protect against insects. Their intelligence and cognitive skills are better than most mammals except for humans and certain apes. In fact, one Asian elephant in Korea can say several words.
Nestled at the eastern end of Waikiki Beach and in the shadows of Diamond Head is Queen Kapi’olani Park. Here you will find the Honolulu Zoo. Among the nearly 1,000 animals are two female Asian elephants. Mari was born in 1975. This one out for a stroll in the setting sun is Vaigai who is ten years younger. Both are from India. They roam in an exhibit built for them in 2012.
151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Ban Pak Ou is a small village along the Mekong River in Laos. Very few visitors to this part of Southeast Asia can resist the opportunity to ride on the back of an Asian elephant like this one at the Nam Ou Elephant Farm.
Wat Pak Ou, Pak Ou, Laos
The living quarters for this African elephant at the Zoo Basel seemed cramped for the largest land mammal, but then his current house was built in 1953. A new one is under construction. When it is finished in the fall of 2016, it will be over 5000 square meters. It is this type of continuous improvement that earns the Zoologischer Garten Basel top rankings among the world’s zoos.
This Asian elephant with enormous tusks and a tattooed face is an official greeter at the Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand. Although an average male stands nine feet tall and weighs about six tons, they have superior intelligence and a gentle disposition … perfect qualities to interact with this mother and her little girl.
Chiang Mai Zoo, 100 Huaykaew Rd, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
The Thai Elephant Conservation Center has an excellent nursery that cares for pregnant females, aids them with birthing and then overseas the raising of the calf until it is weaned at three years old. Their veterinarians also adopt injured or abandoned baby elephants from the wild plus have successfully developed Asia’s only artificial insemination program. Imagine being pregnant for 22 months and then delivering a 200 pound, three foot baby.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand
When you drive up to the Elephant Conservation Center at Hang Chat in the Lampang Province of Thailand, you laugh when you see this yellow caution sign with the silhouette of an elephant crossing the road. But you soon realize it is serious because the National Elephant Institute cares for about 50 Asian elephants and many of them are frequently walking along the dirt roads.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand
The Elephant Conservation Center in Hang Chat, Thailand, taught elephants how to paint in 1997. It is amazing to watch these enormous animals gently curl their trunk around a brush while skillfully creating a self-portrait. Many of the paintings are surprisingly good. The artwork is sold in a nearby gift shop and then rolled up into a paper tube that is manufactured onsite from dung.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand
This Asian elephant is just one of the fifty at the Elephant Conservation Center. They also house six of the king’s 10 white elephants at the Royal Stable. This government-owned facility provides a host of management, medical, research, and training services. Their mission also includes helping to conserve the 2,000 to 3,000 elephants still living free in Thailand’s forests. This is about 10% of the world’s wild population of this endangered species.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Twice a day the elephants at the Elephant Conservation Center in northern Thailand are led by their mahouts or professional keepers towards a pond where they are bathed and cooled off. Notice how the men seem relaxed on the backs of these giant animals yet the women are desperately holding on. That is because they are part of a homestay program where you are taught to care for an elephant for a few days. On day one, it is very easy to fall off your swimming elephant.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand
This profile of a male and female Asian elephant walking along a road provides a good look at their size difference. The shoulder height of a bull ranges from 6.5 to 11.5 feet and they weigh from 4,000 to 11,000 pounds. The female Indian elephant is considerably smaller and has no tusk or a very short one.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand
Until major roads were built in Thailand, the two primary means of transportation were the boat on rivers or the elephant on dirt paths through the dense forest. The Asian elephant has also been historically revered by Thai villagers for their brute strength in farming and logging, as carriages for warriors in battle, and as a symbolic guardian at Buddhist temples.
2031 Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tambon Wiang Tan, Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang 52190, Thailand