The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is a species of elephant distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west to Borneo in the east, and Nepal in the north to Sumatra in the south.

The Asian elephant is the largest land mammal on the Asian continent. They inhabit dry to wet forest and grassland habitats in 13 range countries spanning South and Southeast Asia. While they have preferred forage plants, Asian elephants have adapted to surviving on resources that vary based on the area.

Jul 5, 2019 · Asian elephants are one of three species of elephant, which also include savanna and forest elephants (collectively known as African elephants). For decades, scientists assumed Asian elephants...

Asian elephants are found in isolated pockets of India and Southeast Asia, including Sumatra and Borneo. They were formerly widely distributed south of the Himalayas, throughout Southeast Asia and in China as far north as the Yangtze River. Asian elephants are considered forest animals.

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is one of only three living species of elephants or elephantids anywhere in the world, the others being the African bush elephant and African forest elephant. The Asian elephant is the largest living land animal in Asia.

Asian elephants live in the tropical forests and grasslands of Southeast Asia. They’re a little smaller than African elephants but can grow nine feet tall and weigh nearly six tons. That’s...

Jan 29, 2025 · The Asian elephant’s finger-like trunk and visible tusks make it a truly fascinating mammal. However, this large and beloved creature is on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 50,000 left in the wild. Measuring about 21 feet in length, standing between 6.5 and 11.5 feet tall, and weighing approximately 11,000 pounds, the Asian elephant ...

Asian elephants are found primarily in the tropical and subtropical forests of Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. Though they once roamed freely across Asia, they’re …

Jun 23, 2022 · Large herds of elephants once roamed freely throughout Asia’s forests and grasslands. Today, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is classified as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Asian elephants are both culturally important and vital to ecosystems. Learn more about these magnificent creatures and what WWF is doing to protect them.