Domesticating a small animal is not that difficult, but when you think of domesticating the largest land mammal present on Earth, you surely will have to think again. So is the case of domesticating an elephant, which is quite a common thing in this peninsular subcontinent called India. India is a home to millions of species of flora and fauna, a large amount of which are yet undiscovered and uninhabited, but living in India surely gave us a chance to experience the looks and touch of the largest living land mammal. This huge animal has an average lifespan equivalent to that of a human being, and is a really calm animal unless bothered in excess. A few fun facts about an elephant being a domesticated animal are here.
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Types
Elephants are broadly classified into two types, that is the Asian elephant and the African elephant, clearly depending upon the region they belong to. African elephants are known to be a a bit larger and heavier than Asian elephants, and also a little wild if they see some sort of harm happening to their family. Asian elephants are more of a peaceful nature, and are ideal for domestication. The African elephant is broadly classified into further two categories namely African Forest Elephant and African Bush Elephant.
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Size
Elephants are the largest living land mammal. They are HUGE, and by huge, I mean really HUGE. An elephant can grow up to 4 metres in height and can attain a weight of 7,000 kilograms, or in other words, 7 metric tonnes. This directly concludes that you need to have some supplies to take proper care of your elephant. Those supplies include ample amount of space for elephants to roam and sleep, and a big enough farm so that they can fulfill their diet.
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diet
It is commonly clear by the size of a person or animal, how its diet would be! Thus, it can be said that size and diet have a direct relationship. So in case of elephants, it is quite obvious that they might have a good diet, and by good, I mean, EXTREMELY EXCRUCIATINGLY GOOD. In an animal specie, where even the newly born weighs 91 kilograms on an average, diet needs to be huge. Coming to facts, an adult elephant requires around 200 litres of water, not in a week or something, but in a single day! Coming to what they eat, their favourite feed is vegetation. Though seeing at such a huge animal might seem that it is carnivores, but elephants are fully herbivores, and just rely on vegetation for fulfilling their daily needs. On an average, a single elephant consumes 150 to 200 kg of vegetation everyday.
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tusks
Elephant behaviour and physiology resembles that of humans in numerous manners. One of them is the resemblance in their teeth growth. Just like human babies, elephants also grow toothless, and grow their tusks with the passing time. The common use of these tusks is for the purpose of digging, but nowadays, there is an illegal market of these tusk ivory, which is used for ornamental purposes in people’s house. Though illegal, but it is a bloomed market, which is not at all healthy for the population of these serene animal specie. Also, these animals have to consume vegetation for most of their lifetime which is a reason, elephants sleep only for 3-5 years in a day. This regular chewing causes quick wear and tear of their teeth, so unlike human beings, elephants are equipped with 6-8 sets of teeth, which grow in place of the old worn teeth and replace them.
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memory
Elephants are known to have some sort of Grey matter in their mind. Rendered as one of the most intelligent animals, they don’t forget anything easily. It is said that when something goes into an elephant’s mind, it never goes out. They can put any data in their mind, and make it stay there for a long duration of time.
Elephants make really great pets. Although they need some extra input, but they are worth it. One of the best domesticated animals, it remains a good pet only if they are not hindered of their natural surroundings, and are allowed to remain with their family. Always remember that elephants are extremely possessive for their family. Any misbehaviour with any member of their family means you are going to be attacked by the head elephant. In India, Elephants are also used as a mode of transport in various parts, especially in those areas, where dense bushes and forests are present as elephants can easily make their way from these regions. A strange facts about these super animals is that they can swim. They use their trunk in an upright position, so that it remains out of the surface of water, and hence can be used for breathing purposes. Despite of their large body size, they can swim, and stay in water to avoid heat. They have huge ears, which are made of blood capillaries, and are aimed at regulating the body temperature of the elephant. It is an ironical fact that this largest mammal is afraid of the smallest things like a rat or a fly or any other such ground insects. Pet Elephants are also used in circus for the purpose of entertainment of the audience present.