In some parts of Asia, people and elephants have
co-existed for thousands of years.

Elephant is a highly intelligent animal with a great
capacity to learn new things. Much of elephant behavior is learned
from the elders over the years rather than being instinctive.

Indian elephant has a lifespan between 40 and 65 years
with some animals reported to have lived for more than 75 years.

An Asian elephant bull can attain a height of 11 feet
and a weight of over six tonnes.

Tusks on average are between 3 and 6ft (91 to 182cm) long.
Females and some males (called makhnas) do not have tusks but have
small tusk-like teeth called tushes.

Their diet includes grasses, bamboo shoots,
leaves, roots and bark.

Females become sexually mature at around 15 years.
Males between the ages of 9 and 13 disperse from the matriarchal group
and establish their independent home range.

A single calf is born after a gestation of 18 to 22 months
and is nursed for two to four years.
Other female elephants in the group, especially sub-adult females,
care for the calf, too – a phenomenon referred to as allomothering.

Adult bulls are mainly solitary but form temporary associations
with other males and join female groups primarily for mating.
During a period known as 'musth', males exhibit a period of
heightened sexual activity combined with increased aggression.