Asian Elephants - India

The elephant is Earth's largest land animal, although the Asian elephant is slightly smaller than its African cousin. Asian elephants are mainly found across India and Sri Lanka and towards the south and east as far as Sumatra. In India the major regions where elephants are found include the forests of Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Orissa, and Assam.

The Asian elephant can weigh up to 5400 kg (11,900 lb). It currently occupies forested habitats in hilly or mountainous terrain, up to about 3600 m (11,800'). An adult eats approximately 150 kg (330 lb) per day - mainly grasses but also leaves, twigs and bark. It feeds during the morning, evening and night and rests during the middle of the day, requiring shade during the hot season to keep from overheating. Elephants cannot go for long without water (they require 70-90 liters (19-24 gal) of fluid/day) and sometimes must travel long distances each day between their water supplies and feeding areas.

One calf is born every 3-4 years after a pregnancy lasting about 22 months. Although mature male elephants may live alone, females live in family groups consisting of mothers, daughters and sisters, together with immature males. Wild elephants can live to be sixty years old.

Rajaji National Park is popular for its big-name wild animal species like Asian Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Indian Hare, Sloth Bear, Goral, Indian langur, Civets, Indian Porcupine, Monitor lizard, Python, Himalayan yellow throated marten, Himalayan Black Bear, Nilgai, King Cobra, Jackal Barking Deer, Sambhar, Wild boar, Common Krait, Indian Cobra and Rhesus macaque.

This National Park is also known for housing beautiful avian species that counts over three hundred in number. This wide diversity in the species is due to the open grassland location of the Rajaji Park. Some of the birds worth watching here include White-naped Woodpecker, Great Hornbill, Black-bellied Tern, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Greater Scaup, Great Pied Hornbill, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, fire tailed sunbird, Northern Goshawk, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Scaly Thrush, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Rusty-flanked Tree-creeper, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Black-necked Stork, Tytler's Leaf Warbler, Reed Bunting, and Green Avadavat. Migratory birds from far west add to the number of the already found species.

The flora or the vegetation of the Rajaji Park stands spectacular and donate towards the eco-sysytem of the park. Several of the great plant species are found here. Some species to name are Terminalia, Shorea, Mallotus, Phoebe, Drypetes, Dalbergia, Acacia, Adina, Bridelia, Syzygium, and many more!

Thickly covered by the Sal Forest, the main forest types of Rajaji National Park include Western Gangetic Moist, Northern dry Deciduous and Khair-Sissoo forests. Savannah Woodlands cover the drier southern borders of the park. It is also very interesting to know that the reason behind the fertile landscapes of the reserve is the flow of River Ganga through the park. The river flow stretches around 24 km and contributes towards the greenery of the park. Nature lovers will find the captivating landscape and wildlife of the Rajaji Park to be tempting and irresistible.