India is a habitat for the different kind of animals. The elephant is too among one of them. Indian elephants are famous worldwide. They have always been the centre of tourist attraction. Though they can be found in all parts of India, but a larger portion of them is found in Southern India, at places such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Cochin, etc. A number of elephants can also be found in some parts of Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Udaipur where elephant rides are quite famous. Rajasthan is known for its world heritage.
There are number of forts, which amaze tourists from all over the world. There are special paid arrangements made to take a tour of the fort on elephants. The forts are quite vast in the area and it may be very tiring for a person to take a tour on foot by oneself. Moreover, taking a tour on an elephant is in itself a wonderful experience. Kids love the most of it. Indian elephants are also domesticated to perform a variety of other tasks. They can carry heavy loads from one place to another place and thus are utilized for the same.
Elephants have an enormous strength, and they are very tall. The average height of an adult elephant range from 7 feet to 11 feet. Their average weight is somewhere between 5000 lb to 11000 lb. They are usually darker in color with black or brown shades. As compared to an African elephant, Indian elephants have smaller ears but a larger trunk and a broader skull. Elephants are herbivores, and since they are giant in size, their dietary requirements are huge too. They feed on leaves, grass, and fruits, among which bananas are their favorite. Elephants have always attracted children of all ages. Their nature is very calm unless and until provoked for.
Indian elephants are witnessing a sudden decline in their numbers. This is mainly because of two reasons. One is the rapid destruction of forest and vegetation owing to increase in population. Secondly, many elephants are hunted due to their ivory tusks. The demand of ivory trade in the international market is quite huge. In order to make lots of money many people hunt down the elephants. Indian government has introduced new rules and regulation for the safety of Indian elephants. In years to come, there are chances to witness an increase in the number of elephants in India with these measures and increasing awareness among people.