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Sri Lankan Elephant (tusker)

Elephas maximus maximus

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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6.2799, 81.4013

Field Notes

Description:

Large mammal with a distinctive trunk.This one is a tusker! It was also a loner. In India, we believe lone elephants are dangerous. Donot know if it applies to Sri Lankan ones as well.
The cattle egret (bird in picture) is following the elephant and catching the insects that jump up, disturbed, as the large mammal passes.

Habitat:

Yala National Park. It is common to see elephants as you drive down the highway. Habitat loss is a threat. Elephant-human conflicts are on the rise...at least inside Yala this tusker is safe.

Notes:

Wikipedia says: Only 7% of males bear tusks. According to the elephant census conducted in 2011 by the Wildlife Conservation Department of Sri Lanka, only 2% of the total population are tuskers.

Reference Links:

Sri Lankan elephant - Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
AshleyT
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
grade-78-science7
It would be amazeing to go out a see a elephant it's it's habitat. Great pictures.
grade-78-science3
That elephant is really cool. It's scientific name is Elephas maximus maximus
jesse.fountain
the sri lanken elaphent is cool because of how it is so big and carrys its weight so well
grade-78-science6
The Sri Lankan elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. He is so big

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 10, 2017

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