The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is a species of elephant formerly known as the Indian Elephant. It is smaller than its African relatives, and the easiest way to distinguish the two is the smaller ears of the Asian Elephant. Asian elephants tend to grow to around two to four meters (7-12 feet) in height and 3,000-5,000 kilograms (6,500-11,000 pounds) in weight.

Asian Elephants have other differences from their African relatives. Including a more rounded back than the African, two "fingers" at the tip of their trunks as opposed to only one, 4 nails on each hind foot instead of three, and 19 pair of ribs instead of 21.

The majority of Asian Elephants lack the large tusks usually associated with elephants. Unlike female African Elephants, female Asian Elephants lack tusks, and most males are also deficient in this respect. A population of 400-500 wild elephants of this species will typically contain less than ten "tuskers".

This animal is widely domesticated, and has been used in forestry in Southeast Asia for centuries. Wild elephants attract tourist money to the areas where they can most readily be seen, but damage crops and may enter villages to raid gardens.

An animal of this size is potentially dangerous. Care should be taken when walking or driving at night or in the late evening in areas where wild elephants roam. Particularly, potential meetings with unpredictable adult males, or a females with nearby young, are best avoided.

Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka