SOME FACTS YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ELEPHANTS

ELEPHANTS WHO MUCH WE LOVE TO WATCH THEM

* Elephants in forest move in herds

* They move in fives, tens, twenties, fifties or even more

* They are usually led by old female elephant

* They enjoy any climate; summer go to river, stream, pond, splash water, swm and drink water. Winter: They search for grassy lands.

* Elphants are great at swim. They can cross rivers

* The main food items are: leaves, trees, plants, fruits and they eat tons.

(That is the reason, it is colloquially said, if a government department keeps consuming money for unproductive works, these departments are called WHITE ELEPHANTS.)

* If people are fat, they are jokingly referred to as BABY ELEPHANTS

* Interesting fact is most elephants sleep in standing position though some lie down.

* Elephants have great sense of smell. They can sense danger through smell, not by sight or hearing - both becomes poor like humans due to ageing.

* In a herd, if there are two males, they fight each other to the extent of one killing the other, or drive one out of herd. (As if one male can manage so many females!!!)

* The shape of elephants have undergone tremendous changes over thousands of years.

* There are mainly 2 types: Asian Elephants, African Elephants.

* In Asia, elephants are found in plenty in India,SriLanka, Mynmar, Laos, Thailand etc.

* Tamed elephants are used to carry out tasks which are difficult for humans and as well as machines like cranes. They move millions of tonnes of timber from forest to storage area.

* In India, elephants are important animals used in temple service. They carry the god's idol on festival occasions and in Kerala, during world famous Onam festival, elephants are beautifully decorated with gold plates.

* In Karnataka, not long ago, the forest department used to conduct KHEDDA - by digging a big pit, capture wild elephants and tame them and domesticate them.

* In many reserve forest areas like Bandipur (Karnataka) elephant rides are provided for children and parents.

* The seat on the back of elephant is known as HOWDAH

* In epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, elephants are used in thousands alongside horses to fight the enemy.

* Unitl circus are banned, elephants role in circus is very memorable.

* Unfortunately one out of 4 elephant calves are killed by tigers, if they stray out. Otherwise, the adult elephants take care of the calves all the times, until they are strong enough to defend themselves.

* Elephants are vegetarians

* In Thailand, elephants are the players in football (polo like game) and it is watched by thousand of people.

* Elephants are the only means of transport in deep jungles where vehicles cannot move.

* The man who trains and maintains elephants are knwn as MAHUTS

* Elephants easily understands the words uttered by mahut, and he the only displine officer for elephant brigade!!

* It is generally believed that elephant remembers persons who have insulted or injured, takes revenge to the extent of killing.

* In India, in several movies, elephants are the hero/heroines (Hathi Mere Sathi).

* It is the favourite of all children. In cities, when domesticated elephant comes for a ride, children directly offer Bananas, coconut etc. which it is fond of.

* I had been to Bandipur REserve forests, where the Forest department arranges a visit to forest in a specially designed vehicle. One can see plenty of elephants in herds especially in the afternoons.

DO YOU LIKE ELPHANTS?

DID YOU EVER HAD A RIDE ON ELEPHANTS?

CAN YOU ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU KNOW ON ELEPHANTS?

HAVE YOU SEEN WILD ELEPHANTS AT FOREST.