A cute Asian elephant calf with its mother is coming out of the tall grass. The mother is acting protective behind the sweet little calf, which is still quite young. As curious as the cute calf is, it walks ahead to explore. When an Asian elephant calf is born, it weighs around 65 – 105 kilograms / 150 – 230 pounds. They are quite massive. Female elephants carry their developing calves for 20-22 months. Finally born with such enormous weight, and this is only the beginning. The baby elephant has to grow. Therefore, in the beginning, it drinks 10 liters / 20 pints of milk per day. With that much milk, it gains around 13 kilograms / 30 pounds per week. The freshly newborn elephant will stay very close to its mother for a period.
Asian Elephant Childhood
Asian elephant calves stay with their mother and herd for up to 16 years. Nearly as long as we humans do. For the first 2-3 years, an Asian young elephant depends solely on its mother. Of course, for feeding, for protection, and also to learn. At the age of two, a baby elephant starts to eat on its own. They still depend on the milk of their mother. Did you know that young elephant loses their teeth and tusks just like we humans do?
Some facts about Asian elephants and their cousins: African elephants, the difference between two continents:
- An Asian elephant has smaller ears than an African elephant’s ears.
- Asian elephant males have tusks, but females don’t. African elephants, both female and male, can have tusks.
- The most exciting difference is that an Asian elephant’s trunk has only one finger on the end of trunk. Therefore an African elephant two fingers.
Asian elephant, Elephas maximus, is classified as an endangered species in the IUCN list.
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Hanneke –
So lovely 💞
Anette Mossbacher –
These Asian elephants surprised us. They suddenly appeared silently from the jungle beside our jeep. The little calf was first, before the rest of the elephant herd appeared.
Thank you very much, Hanneke.
Ciao Anette