Wild Elephants
Almost a national symbol, a charismatic species which is remarkable for their intelligence, powers of memory, amenability to training, behavioral patterns and social organization. I along with many others love to watch this creature and I would never get enough of it.
Yes, many people of course know this giant, the largest living mammal on land, none other than the elephant, yet most of them know very little about this threatened species a major tourist attraction in the island.
It is well known among Asian societies, including our own, elephants for centuries have played prominent roles in the pageants of monarchs, religious ceremonies as well as in the theater of war. Alexander the Great is reputed have crossed Alps with them, our own Maligawa Tusker, Raja, died at the age of 80, played for many years the star role of carrying the sacred tooth relic in kandyperahera. And Im happy to say, the tusker which currently plays this role, nadungamuwe raja, lives just few miles away from my home.
This close association between man and elephant is believed to be one reason which has impaired their rate of extinction in Sri Lanka, whereas usually small islands like ours cannot sustain large animals like elephants.
Let me share some of the hidden facts about these beautiful giants. The pre-history of elephants fairly well documented, from its origin from little modified pig-like mammals to the present day elephants. Their origin lies in and around Egypt of today. Loxodonta, the elephant of Africa and the Elephas, the elephant of asia are the only two genera of elephants living today.
African elephants considered relatively aggressive animals weighs about 6,000 kg compared with around 5,000 kg of the latter. The African elephant population estimated to be around 600,000, whereas Asian elephants estimated around 30,000-40,000.
Elephasmaximusmaximus, the Srilakan elephants total to about 3,000 including both wild and captive animals, out of
Yes, many people of course know this giant, the largest living mammal on land, none other than the elephant, yet most of them know very little about this threatened species a major tourist attraction in the island.
It is well known among Asian societies, including our own, elephants for centuries have played prominent roles in the pageants of monarchs, religious ceremonies as well as in the theater of war. Alexander the Great is reputed have crossed Alps with them, our own Maligawa Tusker, Raja, died at the age of 80, played for many years the star role of carrying the sacred tooth relic in kandyperahera. And Im happy to say, the tusker which currently plays this role, nadungamuwe raja, lives just few miles away from my home.
This close association between man and elephant is believed to be one reason which has impaired their rate of extinction in Sri Lanka, whereas usually small islands like ours cannot sustain large animals like elephants.
Let me share some of the hidden facts about these beautiful giants. The pre-history of elephants fairly well documented, from its origin from little modified pig-like mammals to the present day elephants. Their origin lies in and around Egypt of today. Loxodonta, the elephant of Africa and the Elephas, the elephant of asia are the only two genera of elephants living today.
African elephants considered relatively aggressive animals weighs about 6,000 kg compared with around 5,000 kg of the latter. The African elephant population estimated to be around 600,000, whereas Asian elephants estimated around 30,000-40,000.
Elephasmaximusmaximus, the Srilakan elephants total to about 3,000 including both wild and captive animals, out of