"Elephas Maximus Indicus" of South India!

The Indian Elephant, Elephas maximus indicus, is one of four subspecies of the Asian Elephant, the largest population of which is found in India. This subspecies is also found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Burma/Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 98mm

Took this picture in Bandhipur with my D200& 70-200. We only a few feet away from the heard. At first they gave a mock charge, but later settled down and started to go about their usual work, ....eating!.

ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 200

The Indian Elephant is up to 6.4 meters long.Its height at the shoulder is between 2 and 3.5 meters and it weighs between 2.7 and 4.5 tonnes.

 Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 200mm

In this shot: The mother and the baby were playing with mud.  To help protect the skin from parasites and biting insects, elephants wallow in mud or spray dust on their wet skin. Once the mud and dust is dry, elephants rub against a hard surface, removing most parasites.

GAIT:

Exposure: 1/60 sec
Aperture: 5.3
Focal Length: 120mm

A top speed of 30 kmh (18 mph.) over short distances has been recorded for elephants.Elephants have been described as having an ambling (easy-going) walk at a normal rate of six to eight kmh (3.6 to 4.8 mph.).
In this shot: The elephant got really pissed at us and charged with full throttle at the jeep. If we had not moved the jeep, He would have definitely toppled it.

Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Focal Length: 130mm

The social structure of elephants is complex, varying by gender, and population dynamics. Adult elephants form matriarchal (female—led) societies. Adult males are usually solitary.The primary function of elephant family units is the protection and rearing of calves. Adult females cooperate in the assistance of calf movements, foraging, protection, and social experiences. Calf survivability greatly increases with an increased number of females taking care of them.

 

 ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/125 sec
Aperture: 2.8
Focal Length: 80mm

The oldest, most dominant female is called the matriarch. The matriarch is the backbone of the elephant family unit because she provides stability and determines ranging patterns for the rest of the family.

In this shot: The Matriarch warning us not to come any further, or else!
Whenever threatened, they usually give a loud trumpeting, before charging.



The WWF considers the Indian Elephant widely distributed, but endangered. The current population of the Indian Elephant is in the range of 20,000-25,000. The Indian Elephant was assessed as an endangered species in 1996 by the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. They  are threatened by poaching for the ivory of their tusks, by the loss of habitat due to human pressure on forested areas and due to human conflict.









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