Indian Elephant
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{{Taxobox
| name = Indian Elephant
| status=EN
| image = Working Elephant Vietnam.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| ordo = [[Proboscidea]]
| familia = [[Elephantidae]]
| genus = ''[[Elephas]]''
| species = ''[[Asian Elephant|E. maximus]]''
| subspecies = '''''E. m. indicus'''''
| trinomial = ''Elephas maximus indicus''
| trinomial_authority = [[Cuvier]], [[1798]]
}}
[[Image:Thrippunithura-Elephant4 crop.jpg|right|thumb|An elephant named ''Sri Hari'' during [[Sree Poornathrayesa temple]] festival, [[Thrippunithura]].]]
The '''Indian Elephant''', ''Elephas maximus indicus'', is one of four [[subspecies]] of the [[Asian Elephant]], the largest population of which is found in [[India]]. This subspecies is also found in [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[Cambodia]], [[China]], [[Laos]], [[Peninsular Malaysia]], [[Myanmar]], [[Nepal]], [[Thailand]], and [[Vietnam]].
The other three subspecies of the Asian Elephant are the [[Sumatran Elephant]] (''E. m. sumatranus''), [[Sri Lankan Elephant]] (''E. m. maximus'')<ref>[http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm Honolulu Zoo Indian Elephant]</ref> and [[Borneo Elephant]] (''E. m. borneensis'').
== Habitat ==
Indian Elephants live in or near scrub-forested areas, although their habitat may vary. They tend to be nomadic in nature and do not stay in one place for more than a few days. They can live in jungles but gravitate towards areas that contain open space and grass.
== Physical characteristics ==
The Indian Elephant is up to 6.4 metres (21 feet) long; it is taller and thinner than the Asian elephant found in Thailand. The largest Indian Elephant was 26ft (7.88m) long, stood 11ft, 9in (3.61m) at the arch of the back, and weighed 8 tons (17935 lbs). <ref>[http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm Honolulu Zoo Indian Elephant]</ref> Indian elephants look similar to [[African elephants]] but they have smaller ears and shorter [[tusks]]. They are also the only [[elephant]] to be used by [[humans]].{{Fact|date=April 2007}}.
== Population & Endangerment ==
The WWF considers the Indian Elephant widely distributed, but endangered. The current population of the Indian Elephant is in the range of 20,000-25,000<ref>[http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/species/about_species/species_factsheets/elephants/asian_elephants/indian_elephant/index.cfm WWF - Indian elephant<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The Indian Elephant was assessed as an endangered species in 1996 by the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. <ref>[http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/7140/all 2007 IUCN Red List – Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Indian Elephants are threatened by poaching for the ivory of their tusks, by the loss of habitat due to human pressure on forested areas and due to human conflict. The isolated populations of wild elephants in individual wildlife sanctuaries are also threatened by loss of genetic diversity. Recently a number of corridors connecting wildlife sanctuaries have been established to encourage the migration of wild elephants.<ref>[http://www.india-wildlife-tours.com/wild-animals-in-india/indian-wildlife-indian-elephant.html Indian Elephant,Asian Elephant,Elephant in India,Asian Elephant India,Information on Indian Elephant,Endangered Animals in India,Asian Elephant Tours<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==See also==
* [[Asian Elephant]]
* [[Elephants in Kerala culture]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
* Shoshani J, Eisenberg JF (1982) Elephas maximus. Mammalian Species 182: 1–8. [http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-182-01-0001.pdf Full text]
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Elephas_maximus.html Animal Diversity. Elephas maximus.]
* [http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm Honolulu Zoo Indian Elephant]
==External links==
*[http://web.mac.com/nadjagrimm/iWeb/JWDC/Elephants%20.html Paintings of Indian Elephants]
[[Category:Elephants]]
[[Category:Fauna of India]]
[[Category:Fauna of Bangladesh]]
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[[bg:Индийски слон]]
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[[ko:인도코끼리]]
[[it:Elephas maximus indicus]]
[[ms:Gajah India]]
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[[sv:Indisk elefant]]
[[zh-yue:印度象]]