Gentle giants in the jungle

The Indian elephant is native to the Asian continent. It has been classified as critically endangered since 1986 because the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations. Asian elephants are threatened by habitat degradation, fragmentation or loss. Fortunately, Indian elephants are successfully bred in zoos. They are smaller than their African relatives. The tip of their trunk has a finger-like appendage. Indian elephants reach a shoulder height between 2 and 3.5 m and weigh between 2000 and 5000 kg. Females are usually smaller than males and have only small or no tusks.