Essay on Elephant in 500 Words
Elephants are fascinating creatures. They are one of the oldest living animals on Earth. They are the descendants of an extinct species called mammoth. The average life span of an elephant is 5 to 70 years. However, studies show that there has been an elephant that happened to live for 86 years.
Elephants are herbivores. They eat fruits, grass, vegetables, leaves, and bamboo, etc. Whenever you think about them, your mind sketches them as huge animals. An elephant can grow up to 10 feet of height. Its skin tone is dark (mostly grey or black). In Thailand, some elephants are white.
Elephants have a broad body, two small eyes, four large legs, two white husks (teeth), and a short tail. Their thick and big legs help them maintain stability. Their ears look like big fans. They have a long trunk and belong to the family Elephantine and class Mammalia.
Elephants love to swim in the rivers and streams. They are the biggest land mammals. Forest is their natural habitat. They are also found in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. There have been instances where humans have forced them to work in circuses. Elephants are considered to be very intelligent, as they have a great learning capacity.
They have a sharp sense of memory, and they are very obedient. They are a very important part of our nature. They have helped us in many activities. Let us get to know a bit more about these beautiful beings. Getting to know their importance will help us protect them.
Types of Elephants
Elephants are mostly found in Africa and Asia. In Africa, they are mostly found in the western and central parts. They also live in the southern, eastern, and southeastern parts of Asia.
The population varies from 400,000 to 660,000 in Africa and 25,600 to 32,750 in Asia. In India, you can find elephants in the states of West Bengal, Karnataka, Assam, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Asian elephants are comparatively smaller than those of the African ones. Both the male and the female elephants of Africa have a stronger gripping trunk. The African species are further divided into two types- African bush elephants and African forest elephants.
Archaeological studies tell us that the existing elephants are the only surviving species of the order proboscis. Elephants have the potential to hear each other’s voice from a distance of 5 miles. Their hearing power is strong because of their large ears.
Let us learn some interesting facts about the different groups of elephants. Once the male elephants become adults, they separate from their pack and prefer living a solitary life. However, female elephants do not separate from their dear ones and live in groups.
A mother elephant carries her baby for more than 20 to 22 months (until the baby fully develops). A baby elephant is known as a calf. Its height can reach as much as 85 cm and it weighs about 120 kg during birth.
Features of an Elephant
The long trunk of an elephant is one of its important features. People are fascinated by its trunk. The trunk has the nostrils which help the elephant breathe. The trunk is composed of 40,000 muscles and has great power. Elephants use their trunk to pick food and also to strike.
They can fill their trunk with water and break down long branches of trees with its help. Apart from these, elephants also have enamel tusks. These tusks look like canine teeth and protect them from their enemies.
Out of all the animals which appear to be quiet and peaceful, elephants top the list. They have a very calm mind and seem to mind their own business most often. They stay in their group and make sure not to hurt any innocent creature.
However, if someone tries to mess with these Royal creatures, the survival chances are a bare minimum. When they get irritated, they can be wildly dangerous.
Importance of Elephants
Elephants are magnificent animals and are very useful to us humans. They have a cultural significance to a place or a country. They attract tourists from all around the globe to that place. They benefit their cohabitants living in the forest.
During droughts or even a dry season, the source of water is hard to find. Elephants dig for water with the help of their strong tusk. This helps them and other animals to survive in harsh environmental conditions.
While eating in the forest, elephants create gaps in the vegetation. This gap is helpful for the growth of new plants. It also creates a pathway for smaller animals. It also enables the seed dispersal by the trees.
Elephants are also beneficial for their dung. Their dung contains seeds of the trees consumed by them. It helps grasses and bushes to grow. Moreover, they are vital for maintaining the biodiversity of our ecosystem.
They are useful for transportation purposes. They can carry humans along with other heavy loads on their backs. Forest guides use the elephants to provide a forest tour to the travellers. Elephants can be trained easily, and they entertain spectators in the zoo.
Their tusk is extremely valuable and expensive. It is used for making ornaments and various cosmetic products. The high market value has caused more exploitation of these animals.
Conclusion
Selfish human activities have always found a way to mistreat animals. Illegal killing of the elephants has put them in danger. Humans kill them for extracting their tusks, bones, skin and other valuable body parts to make a profit out of it. Hunting and poaching just for fun is a cruel way to kill these animals.
On top of that, man has been destroying their natural habitat. They are being deprived of food and shelter. Day by day, their numbers are decreasing. These actions have made elephants an endangered species now. If not stopped, this might lead to their extinction.
We must respect these creatures and ensure their safety. Educating the public about their importance is mandatory. The Government should ban their hunting and smuggling practices. Conservation campaigns must be organized for safeguarding these species. They deserve our love and care.
10 Lines on Elephant in English
- The elephant is the biggest land mammal in the world.
- They are known for their large floppy ears, tusks made of ivory, long trunks and their intelligence.
- You can tell the difference between Asian and African elephants from the shape of their ears because they are shaped as the maps of India and Africa.
- Elephants are friendly with humans, but if they get angry or scared they can go on a dangerous rampage.
- In olden times, elephants were used in wars because they could easily attack with their tusks and trunks.
- They are generally very slow animals and walk around in herds, with other adult elephants and children.
- Elephants spend 12-18 hours a day eating grass, plants and food using their trunks to lift it to their mouths.
- Elephants protect themselves from the heat in summers by throwing mud and sand onto themselves while bathing.
- Elephant tusks are very precious, which is why they are often hunted down by cruel poachers.
- Because they are classified as Endangered and Vulnerable, it is especially important to spread awareness about their safety.
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