Indian elephants
Mahout's massive mounts
Indian elephants are one of three recognized subspecies of Asian elephant, native to mainland Asia from India through Southeast Asia.
Smaller than African elephants, they have smaller ears, a more rounded back, and only males typically develop large tusks.
They've been domesticated for thousands of years for labor, warfare, and ceremony: Indian elephants carried logs in the teak forests.
Also called Asian elephants, though that term technically covers all Asian subspecies.
- tusksExtended animal incisors
- mahoutElephant keeper and driver
- pachydermThick-skinned hoofed mammal
- gentle giantLarge but kindhearted being
- jumboUnusually large specimen
ears · herbivore · Ganesha · mammals · proboscis · draft animal · trunk · beast of burden · animal symbolism · ivory trade · wildlife conservation · howdah · endangered species · ivory carving · logging · Bengal tiger · Kerala · ancient warfare