Where Do Elephants Live

Even though elephants are one of the most popular members of kingdom Animalia, we can't really boast of knowing everything about them. Among the several elephant facts which continue to elude our mind, elephants habitat facts have a major share.

Different Species of Elephants

Basically, elephants are broadly categorized into two groups on the basis which continent they are found in. As their name suggests, the African elephants are native to Africa, while the Asian elephants are native to Asia. The African elephant species is further categorized into two subspecies - the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant.

The Asian elephant, on the other hand, is a single species, and is also known as the Indian elephant. There are certain points of distinction which help in differentiating between the two on the basis of their physical characteristics. For instance, the African bush elephant is considerably larger than its Asian counterpart and also sports larger ears than the latter.

Geographical Range and Natural Habitat

The geographical range of elephants habitat spans over several square miles across the two continents of Africa and Asia. When we talk about elephant habitat, we also need to take their behavior and diet into consideration. For instance, their voracious feeding habits play a crucial role in determining the extent of their habitat. Similarly, their behavior plays a crucial role in their migratory habits. Given below are details about where each of the species and subspecies of elephants live.

African Bush Elephant: When we say that the elephant is the largest land mammal on Earth, we actually refer to the African bush elephants, which inhabit the arid regions and Savannah grasslands of Africa. This species is found in abundance in nations like Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

African Forest Elephant: The African forest elephants inhabit the dense tropical and sub-tropical rainforests of the Congo basin. They are found in abundance in countries like Niger, Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. More recently, the population of African forest elephants has gone down by a significant extent as a result of habitat loss and poaching.

Asian Elephant (Indian Elephant): The Asian elephant boasts of being the largest land animal in Asia. Unlike the habitat of the African species, the habitat of Asiatic species is characterized by forested regions and mountainous terrain. This species is found in several Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Bhutan, Sumatra etc.

Yet another interesting fact about elephants is their tendency to migrate. While the African elephants migrate during the dry season, the Asian elephants migrate during the monsoon season. Elephants are seldom seen traveling alone, as most of the time they migrate in large groups known as a herd. That being said, it would be quite surprising to see a large herd of African bush elephants, which usually inhabit the Savannah grasslands, somewhere in the forested regions of Africa.

Over the last few years, excessive poaching for their prized ivory tusks has resulted in a severe decline in elephant population in both the continents. Among the three species, the Asian elephant species has been declared endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The authorities are trying their best to curb illegal poaching by introducing various wildlife conservation measures. Introduction of legislation like the African Elephant Conservation Act and the Asian Elephant Conservation Act has helped in controlling illegal activities such as poaching to a significant extent. As a responsible citizen, you can do your bit by spreading awareness about elephants and their endangered status.