Site Tools
Elephant
Asian Elephant
The Asian Elephant was once widespread throughout Asia. However, loss of habitat and poaching has forced remaining populations into heavily forested, inaccessible regions in south and SE Asia. Countries in which the Asian Elephant may be found include Sri Lanka, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia (on the island of Sumatra) and Cambodia.
In the wild the Asian Elephant eats leaves, flowers, fruits, shrubs, grasses and roots. An adult elephant may eat up to 170kg of food, drink 90 L of water, and produce up to 75 kg of faeces per day.
Herds of Asian Elephants occasionally feed on fruit trees growing on plantations bordering the forests, causing thousands of dollars of damage. In order to prevent this guards patrol the boundaries of farms and use spotlights and fire crackers to scare the Elephants away.
At Melbourne Zoo the Asian Elephants are fed carrots, apples, bread, bamboo, hay, lucerne, and leaves.
About our elephants
- Mek Kapah (Beautiful Pearl) - Female dob 1973
- Bong Su (the Youngest Child) - Male dob 1974
- Dokkoon (Thailands National Flower) - Female dob 1993
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
Proboscidae
- Family
Elephantidae
- Species Name
- Elephas maximus
- Status
Endangered
Passionate about Elephants?
Stay in touch with our Elephants - you can support Zoos Victoria and receive regular updates when you adopt the Elephant.
