Idea #381 – Observing the elephants of Sri Lanka
The elephant of Sri Lanka (Elephas maximus maximus) is a member of an under species of Indian elephants. These elephants are smaller than their African counterparts. The height of the shoulders achieves generally from 2 to 3,5 meters, for a weight from 2 to 5,5 tons. They possess a grey skin, with big tasks of depigmentation on their ears, their face, their trunk and the stomach. Sri Lanka accommodates the biggest density of Indian elephants. Within 70 years, the population of these elephants decreased in more than 50 %. Since 1986, Elephas maximus is registered on the list of the endangered species of the IUCN. The elephant of Sri Lanka is today mainly in the dry areas of the North, east and the southeast of Sri Lanka, in particular in the parks of Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, Lunugamvehera National Park, Wilpattu National Park and Minneriya National Park. We also perceive it except the reserves, sometimes at the edge of roads or in inhabited zones.
Where is it ?
Udawalawe Natural Park, Sri Lanka