The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species of the genus Elephas and is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west, Nepal in the north, Sumatra in the south, and to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognised—E. m. maximus from Sri Lanka, E. m. indicus from mainland Asia and E. m. sumatranus from the island of Sumatra.[1] The Asian elephant is the largest living land animal in Asia.[4] Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the population has declined by at least 50 percent over the last three elephant generations, which is about 60–75 years. It is primarily threatened by loss of habitat, habitat degradation, fragmentation and poaching.[3] In 2019, the wild population was estimated at 48,323-51,680 individuals.[5] Female captive elephants have lived beyond 60 years when kept in semi-natural surroundings, such as forest camps. In zoos, Asian elephants die at a much younger age; captive populations are declining due to a low birth and high death rate.[6] The genus Elephas originated in Sub-Saharan Africa during the Pliocene and spread throughout Africa before expanding into the southern half of Asia.[2] The earliest indications of captive use of Asian elephants are engravings on seals of the Indus Valley Civilisation dated to the 3rd millennium BC.[7]
Asian Elephant
Species
for Species in Shere Khan, Lord of the Jungle
Suggested by adrianabengozarlopez
After his pregnant mate Durga is killed by the man-village poacher, Buldeo, Shere-Khan vows to hate all humans. Years later, in the man-village, a couple and their new-born ‘man-cub’ have inherited riches. Buldeo, wanting the inheritance, murders the couple, while their basket, carrying the baby, washes into the jungle. Soon, Shere-Khan and his cave-lodger, Tabaqui the jackal, find the baby. Shere Khan, still hating humans, reluctantly brings the baby to his cave. Over the next few days, with the help of Tabaqui, Bagheera the panther, and Baloo the bear, Shere-Khan grows fond of the baby. Shere-Khan and Bagheera argue about where the baby belongs. Buldeo soon kidnaps the baby, plotting to dispose of him to claim the inheritance. Shere-Khan and Bagheera sneak into the man-village at night, to Buldeo’s fur-hut, and they find that Bhadra, the alpha of a vicious pack of dholes in the jungle, has been captured/caged by Buldeo. After saving the baby, Shere-Khan reluctantly frees Bhadra. Leaving the baby with Bagheera, Shere-Khan confronts Buldeo. After a tense fight, Buldeo is caught in his own tigertrap. Shere-Khan now has the human, who took his mate, at his mercy. However, Shere-Khan lets Buldeo get finished off by Bhadra and his pack, who let Shere-Khan leave for freeing Bhadra. Shere-Khan and Bagheera emotionally have the baby adopted by a wolf-pack, who call the baby ’Mowgli’. Shere-Khan decides to go to the distant parts of the jungle, with Tabaqui accompanying him.
