The elephant is a symbol of what in different cultures, meaning and interesting facts. African and Indian elephant: main differences and similarities

It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the elephant in the culture of India, this ancient and mysterious country. This is explained not only by the fact that they are huge in size, but also by the fact that elephants are a symbol of wisdom and kindness, as well as strength and power.

Since time immemorial, it has been believed that the image of an elephant, whether in drawing, embroidery, or sculpture, brings happiness. Therefore, every Indian home must have these talismans; they bring peace and tranquility. And tourists who come to India from all over the world always take with them a figurine of an elephant. And everyone carefully preserves it with the hope of happiness, with kindness in their hearts.

Elephants in India are not the largest on Earth. They are smaller than African ones. But they still have very impressive sizes. Males reach a height of up to 3.5 meters and weigh more than 5 tons, their length reaches up to 6 meters, and their tail reaches 1.5 meters. The Indian elephant has short and thick legs, there are 5 hooves on the front legs and 4 on the hind legs. The skin is very thick, 2.5 cm, and very wrinkled, and its color can be gray with various shades and brown. It is noteworthy that there are no sweat glands on the animal’s skin, and the skin is very dry. And elephants take very special care of their skin. They take mud and dust baths, bathe, and scratch themselves on tree trunks. The mud protects them from insect bites, as well as from the scorching rays of the sun.

Elephants in India accept active participation in a person's life. They perform the most difficult work in difficult terrain, such as swamps and jungles, lift enormous weights and carry them over long distances. But these heavyweights are not only used for difficult jobs. All rulers of India always kept them for ceremonial trips. How important and slow these majestic animals move in festive processions! They also live near temples. And they even give blessings to believers. And for a certain fee. And they give the money to their owner.

When mad, an elephant is very scary. And he can kill anyone who gets in his way. And in early December, a grand fair is held in the city of Sonepur on the banks of the Ganges, where you can buy a wide variety of animals. Including elephants. Everyone is wondering how much does an elephant cost in India? Its price at this fair ranges from $300 to $6,000. Only those buyers who decide on such an exotic purchase should know that he eats 100 kg of food per day.

The epic "Mahabharata" describes that Indian elephants took part in hostilities as part of army units. Stories have survived to this day about how the invincible warriors of the army of Alexander the Great fled in horror when they saw elephants for the first time. True, the cunning Macedonians subsequently took everything into account weak points Indian army, and still won. But the fear they experienced remained in history.

We can talk endlessly about elephants in India. They occupy great place in Buddhism, because it was the white elephant, according to ancient legend, who brought the news to the Buddha’s mother that she would give birth to a royal child. And since then, the happy messenger in Buddhism has been a sacred animal. What is even sadder is that the number of elephants has greatly decreased and in 1986 they were listed in the Red Book. But we must definitely believe that we, the inhabitants of the Earth, will not allow such a beautiful animal as the elephant to disappear.

You can use his ears. In the second, they are huge, like burdocks, and their highest point coincides with the top of the head, while the neat ears of the Indian elephant never rise above the neck.

Asian elephant

The Indian one is inferior to the African one in size and weight, gaining a little less than 5 and a half tons by the end of its life, while the savanna (African) one can tip the scales up to 7 tons.

The most vulnerable organ is the skin, which lacks sweat glands.. It is this that forces the animal to constantly perform mud and water treatments, protecting it from loss of moisture, burns and insect bites.

The thick, wrinkled skin (up to 2.5 cm thick) is covered with hair, which wears off with frequent scratching on trees: this is why elephants often look spotted.

Wrinkles on the skin are necessary to retain water - they prevent it from rolling off, preventing the elephant from overheating.

The thinnest epidermis is observed near the anus, mouth and inside the ears.

The usual color of the Indian elephant varies from dark gray to brown, but albinos (not white, but only slightly lighter than their herd brethren) are also found.

It was noted that Elephas maximus ( asian elephant), whose body length ranges from 5.5 to 6.4 m, is more impressively built than the African and has thicker, shorter legs.

Another difference from savannah elephant- the highest point of the body: in the Asian elephant it is the forehead, in the first - the shoulders.

Tusks and teeth

The tusks resemble giant horns originating from the mouth. In fact, these are the long upper incisors of males, growing up to 20 centimeters per year.

The tusk of the Indian elephant is less massive (2-3 times) than the tusk of its African relative, weighing approximately 25 kg with a length of 160 cm. Working side An elephant can be easily identified by its tusk, which is more worn and rounded on the right or left.

The tusks differ not only in size, but also in shape and direction of growth (not forward, but sideways).

Makhna is a special name coined for Asian elephants without tusks., which are found in abundance in Sri Lanka.

In addition to elongated incisors, the elephant is armed with 4 molars, each of which grows up to a quarter of a meter. They change as they wear down, with new ones cutting through rather than under the old teeth, pushing them forward.

The Asian elephant changes teeth 6 times during its life, and the last ones appear around the age of forty.

This is interesting! Teeth in natural environment habitats play a fatal role in the fate of the elephant: when the last molars wear out, the animal cannot chew tough vegetation and dies from exhaustion. In nature, this happens by the age of 70 elephant years.

Other organs and body parts

The huge heart (often with a double top) weighs approximately 30 kg, contracting at a frequency of 30 times per minute. 10% of body weight is blood.

The brain of one of the most large mammals The planet is considered (quite naturally) the heaviest, pulling 5 kg.

Females, unlike males, have two mammary glands.

An elephant needs ears not only to perceive sounds, but also to use them as a fan, fanning itself in the midday heat.

Most universal elephant organ - trunk, with the help of which animals perceive odors, breathe, douse themselves with water, feel and grasp various objects, including food.

The trunk, practically devoid of bones and cartilage, is formed by a fused upper lip and nose. The special mobility of the trunk is explained by the presence of 40,000 muscles (tendons and muscles). A single cartilage (separating the nostrils) can be found at the tip of the trunk.

By the way, the trunk ends with a very sensitive process that can detect a needle in a haystack.

And the trunk of the Indian elephant holds up to 6 liters of liquid. Having taken in the water, the animal puts its curled trunk into its mouth and blows so that the moisture enters the throat.

This is interesting! If they try to convince you that an elephant has 4 knees, don’t believe it: there are only two. The other pair of joints is not the knees, but the elbows.

Range and subspecies

Elephas maximus once lived in Southeast Asia from Mesopotamia to the Malay Peninsula, inhabiting (in the north) the foothills of the Himalayas, individual islands of Indonesia and the Yangtze Valley in China.

Over time, the habitat has undergone dramatic changes, acquiring a fragmented appearance. Currently, Asian elephants live in India (South and Northeast), Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Southwestern China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Brunei.

Biologists distinguish five modern subspecies of Elephas maximus:

indicus ( Indian elephant) - male individuals of this subspecies retained tusks. Animals are found in local areas of Southern and Northeastern India, the Himalayas, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Malay Peninsula;
maximus (Sri Lankan elephant) - males usually lack tusks. Characteristic sign- a very large (against the background of the body) head with discolored spots at the base of the trunk and on the forehead. Found in Sri Lanka;
a special subspecies of Elephas maximus, also found in Sri Lanka. The population is less than 100 elephants, which are taller than their peers. These giants, living in the forests of Northern Nepal, are 30 cm taller than standard Indian elephants;
borneensis (Bornean elephant) is a small subspecies with the largest auricles, straighter tusks and long tail. These elephants can be found in the northeast of Borneo;
sumatrensis (Sumatran elephant) - due to its compact size, it is also called the “pocket elephant”. Doesn't leave Sumatra.

Matriarchy and separation of the sexes

Relationships in an elephant herd are built on this principle: there is one, the most mature female, who leads her less experienced sisters, girlfriends, children, as well as males who have not reached puberty.

Mature elephants, as a rule, stay alone, and only older ones are allowed to accompany the group, controlled by the matriarch.

About 150 years ago, such herds consisted of 30, 50 and even 100 animals; nowadays, a herd includes from 2 to 10 mothers, burdened with their own cubs.

By the age of 10-12 years, female elephants reach puberty, but only at 16 years old can they bear offspring, and after another 4 years they are considered adults. Maximum fertility occurs between 25 and 45 years: during this time, the elephant gives birth to 4 litters, becoming pregnant on average every 4 years.

Grown-up males, who acquire the ability to fertilize, leave their native herd at the age of 10-17 years and wander alone until their matrimonial interests intersect.

The reason for the mating list between dominant males is the partner in estrus (2-4 days). In battle, opponents risk not only their health, but also their lives, as they are in a special inflated state called must (translated from Urdu as “intoxication”).

The winner drives away the weaklings and does not leave the chosen one for 3 weeks.

Must, during which testosterone goes off scale, lasts up to 2 months: elephants forget about food and are busy looking for females in estrus. Must is characterized by two types of discharge: copious urine and liquid with odorous pheromones, which is produced by the gland located between the eye and ear.

Drugged elephants are dangerous not only for their relatives. When “intoxicated,” they also attack people.

Offspring

The reproduction of Indian elephants does not depend on the time of year, although drought or forced crowding large number animals can slow down the onset of estrus and even puberty.

The fetus stays in the mother's womb for up to 22 months, being fully formed by 19 months: in the remaining time it simply gains weight.

During childbirth, females cover the woman in labor by standing in a circle. A female elephant gives birth to one (rarely two) cub, one meter tall and weighing up to 100 kg. He already has elongated incisors that fall out when baby teeth are replaced with permanent ones.

A couple of hours after birth, the baby elephant is already on its feet and sucking its mother’s milk, and the mother powders the baby with dust and earth so that its delicate smell does not attract predators.

Several days will pass, and the newborn will wander along with everyone else, clinging to its mother’s tail with its proboscis.

The baby elephant is allowed to suck milk from all lactating elephants. The cub is separated from the breast at 1.5-2 years, completely switched to a plant-based diet. Meanwhile, the baby elephant begins to dilute milk feeding with grass and leaves at six months of age.

After giving birth, the elephant defecates so that the newborn remembers the aroma of her feces. In the future, the baby elephant will eat them so that they enter the body as undigested nutrients, and symbiotic bacteria that promote the absorption of cellulose.

Lifestyle

Despite the fact that the Indian elephant is considered a forest dweller, it easily climbs mountains and overcomes wetlands (thanks to special structure feet).

He loves the cold more than the heat, during which he prefers not to leave the shady corners, fanning himself huge ears. It is they, due to their size, that serve as a kind of sound amplifiers: that is why elephant hearing is more sensitive than human hearing.

This is interesting! By the way, the organ of hearing in these animals, along with the ears, is... the legs. It turned out that elephants send and receive seismic waves at a distance of 2 thousand meters.

Excellent hearing is supported by a keen sense of smell and touch. The elephant is let down only by his eyes, which do not clearly distinguish distant objects. He sees better in shaded places.

An excellent sense of balance allows the animal to sleep standing up, placing its heavy tusks on tree branches or on top of a termite mound. In captivity, he pushes them through the bars or rests them against the wall.

Sleeps 4 hours a day. Cubs and sick individuals can lie down on the ground. The Asian elephant walks at a speed of 2-6 km/h, accelerating up to 45 km/h when in danger, which is signaled by its raised tail.

The elephant not only loves water treatments - it swims excellently and is capable of having sex in the river, impregnating several partners.

Asian elephants convey information not only by roaring, trumpet calls, grumbling, squealing and other sounds: in their arsenal they use movements of the body and trunk. Thus, the latter’s powerful blows to the ground make it clear to his relatives that their comrade is furious.

What else you need to know about the Asian elephant

This is a herbivore, eating from 150 to 300 kg of grass, bark, leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots per day.

The elephant is considered one of the largest (considering its size) pests agriculture, as their herds cause devastating damage to sugar cane, banana and rice plantations.

A complete digestion cycle takes an elephant 24 hours., and less than half of the food is digested. The giant drinks from 70 to 200 liters of water per day, which is why it cannot go far from the source.

Elephants are able to show sincere emotions. They are genuinely sad if newborn elephants or other members of the community die. Joyful events give elephants a reason to have fun and even laugh. Having noticed a baby elephant fallen in the mud, an adult will definitely extend his trunk to help. Elephants are able to hug, wrapping their trunks around each other.

In 1986, the species (as close to extinction) was included in the pages of the International Red Book.

The reasons for the sharp decline in the number of Indian elephants (up to 2-5% per year) are:

killing for ivory and meat;
persecution due to damage to farmland;
degradation environment related to human activity;
death under the wheels of vehicles.

In nature, adults do not have natural enemies, with the exception of humans: but elephant calves often die when attacked by Indian lions and tigers.

In the wild, Asian elephants live 60-70 years, in zoos 10 years more.

This is interesting! The most famous long-lived elephant is Lin Wang from Taiwan, who went to his forefathers in 2003. It was a well-deserved war elephant who “fought” on the side Chinese army during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1954). At the time of his death, Lin Wang was 86 years old.

Elephants. Strong, beautiful, mighty giants.

For all their apparent clumsiness and clumsiness, they are very graceful.

In this article I want to tell you about very beautiful and intelligent giants, about Indian elephants.

You will learn about their lives in wildlife and next to humans, and a lot of interesting things about these amazing animals.

That's already more 4,000 years , smart and beautiful giants - elephants - serve man. Elephants work in logging, participate in wedding ceremonies, in religious processions (remember the article about Indian holidays, chariot rides, the festival of the elephant-faced deity Ganesha?), perform in the circus, and even advertise products. Elephants are very loved and revered in India. In some families, elephants live as pets. They are amazingly caring animals and very loving to their owner.

There are centers in India where abandoned and injured elephant calves are kept. Here, elephant calves are trained as workers and domestic helpers. This process is quite long. It’s not easy to win over a baby elephant, it’s still a wild animal. It takes a lot of effort and time to win the trust and affection of a baby elephant. And when this finally happens, the relationship between the elephant and the owner becomes very touching. The baby begins to recognize its owner and rush to his call. This is very important, because subsequently the owner will be able to completely trust his ward.

They begin to prepare the elephant for work only with 13 years old a to labor responsibilities he starts no sooner 25 years old. In India there is a law that is designed to take care of elderly animals and send them to a well-deserved retirement at age 65 years old. And elephants live 70–75 years (practically their age is equal to that of a human). And drovers, or as they are called in India - MAHAUTS, start working only after training in a three-month course. They are taught how to properly handle animals, give various commands, which the elephant learns in 3-4 years and never forgets, as well as how to competently and correctly care for such a huge pet. Just look how handsome he is. And these smart little eyes are worthy of respect.

It turns out that elephants need daily bathing, and their owners happily wash, scrub and polish their pets' thick but very sensitive skin with a special stone or shell. coconut. And after bathing, elephants love to have breakfast with palm leaves, bamboo, grass, or a special thick porridge made from wheat or millet. And after breakfast, the owners pamper their pets with sweet carrots and sugar cane. Domestic elephants are very fond of sweets.

So, per day an elephant consumes 140 kilograms of food and 150 liters of water . But what can’t you do for your beloved pet? Elephants become very attached to their owner and listen to him with pleasure. When an elephant is well trained and loved by its owner, it does not need a chain. But an evil owner who beats and scolds an elephant may pay for it. An angry elephant can go mad with rage. Elephants also get very angry when they are sold to new owners. To help these giants cope with stress, the old owner himself takes the elephant to his new home and works for some time with the new owner to help him learn the character and habits of the elephant.

Indian elephants(they are also called Asian), are considered the second largest land animals after African elephants. Their body weight does not exceed 5 tons, and the height at the shoulders is no more than 3 meters . Only males have tusks and they (tusks) reach a mass of 20–25 kg and a length of 1.5 meters. But among Indian elephants there are males without tusks, they are called in India makhna. Elephants' ears are not large, very pointed and extended downwards.

The legs of elephants are also designed in a surprising way. On the sole, under the skin, there is a springy jelly-like mass that allows elephants to walk almost silently. When an elephant rests on its foot, its sole expands, increasing the supporting surface. And when the elephant unloads his leg, the sole returns to its original shape. This unique quality the structure of the legs helps elephants overcome swampy swamps and not get stuck at all, even belly-deep in the quagmire.

Indian body
x elephants, covered with wrinkled dark gray skin; The thickness of the skin is 2.5 cm. But, around the mouth and the inside of the ears, the skin is thin and very sensitive. Elephants' skin does not have sweat glands and is dry, so caring for it takes up a significant part of an elephant's life. By taking mud baths, they protect themselves from sunburn, insect bites and fluid loss. Elephants also scratch themselves on trees and bathe quite often.

Elephants most often live in groups of up to 20 individuals. Sometimes there are groups containing more than 100 individuals. In each herd there is an experienced old female, to whom everyone obeys, and who is a kind of leader of the herd.

Indian elephants- this is in to a greater extent forest dwellers. They prefer light-colored forests with a dense undergrowth of bamboo and shrubs. Previously, especially in the cool season, elephants went out into the savannas, but now this happens only in nature reserves, since the savanna has been converted into agricultural land, almost everywhere. In summer, elephants climb high into the mountains, along wooded slopes, and in the Himalayas they are found near the border of eternal snow.

Elephants spend almost 20 hours a day searching for food and are strict vegetarians. The main food of elephants is grass; they also eat roots, leaves and flowers. different plants, bark and fruits. Due to the huge amount of food consumed per day (150 - 300 kg), elephants do not feed in one place for more than 2 - 3 days.

Elephants reproduce at any time of the year; pregnancy in females lasts 605–640 days. One, very rarely two, baby elephants are born, weighing about 90 kilograms. Elephants reach sexual maturity at 8–12 years, and Indian elephants live 70–75 years.

In India and Thailand, elephants are traditionally used as riding animals, trained to lie down on command to make them easier to mount. If elephants cannot be trained to do this, then a ladder is placed next to them, along which people climb onto the animal’s back. Many tourists traveling in India love elephant riding. The ride is made while sitting in a gaudha, a box attached like a saddle, which has a woven bamboo roof to protect it from the sun and rain.

Four people can easily fit on the elephant's back, not counting the mahout who sits on the elephant's neck.

Elephants are most often used in logging, where they not only carry heavy trunks of cut trees, but also perform complex work for laying boards in in a certain order, loading and unloading barges, pulling logs out of the water.

Most trained and tamed elephants are bought by zoos and circuses around the world.

Throughout history, people have hunted elephants, first for their meat and then for their tusks. With the arrival of Europeans in India, the extermination of wild Indian elephants began for the sake of ivory. This has sharply reduced the elephants' habitat, which has become a series of isolated areas in remote or protected areas.

The last decade of the 20th century saw an expansion of agricultural land and an increase in the number of eucalyptus plantations, which are used as the main raw material for the paper and pulp industry in Southeast Asia. This has further reduced the habitat of wild elephants. In addition, they began to be destroyed as agricultural pests (especially in dry years, when there was very little grass, elephants came to people’s plantations in search of food).

In general, people try to be friends with elephants, because they are peaceful animals.

Elephant - symbol positive character, used in Asia as a royal mount, and is highly valued for its intelligence and cunning. The white elephant, which heralded the birth of Buddha, became a symbol of the liberator of people from the shackles of earthly existence.

In Hinduism, the deity Ganesha, the god of literature and wisdom, has the head of an elephant.

The elephant was a symbol of strength and intelligence in ancient China.

And in the Western ancient world, this exotic animal was considered an attribute of the god Mercury, as the embodiment of hereditary wisdom and non-aggressive power. The elephant also symbolizes overcoming death. Medieval books extol the chastity of elephants. Elephants are often found in images of heaven and coats of arms, especially after crusades. In 1464, the Order of the Elephants was formed in Denmark. The white elephant was the symbol of the Kingdom of Siam (present-day Thailand). And in China they believe that riding an elephant in a dream means happiness.

Here they are amazing creatures nature, live in India. These giants amaze with their power and grace, their intelligence and good nature, beauty and greatness. Elephants...

See also Beautiful documentary about Indian wildlife

IN THE KINGDOM OF ELEPHANTS.

The Indian elephant is also called the Asian elephant. It belongs to the elephant family. Forms a separate genus of Asian elephants.

Preferred habitat - deciduous and tropical forests having dense undergrowth. These animals do not live in steppe areas. This is due to human farming activities. Today, these animals live only in reserves in areas without tall plants and trees. It can climb wooded cliffs into the mountains to a height of about 3 thousand meters above sea level. This occurs in the northeastern regions of India - in the Eastern Himalayas. These animals also adapt well to swampy areas and shallow water bodies.

There are 3 types of Asian elephants: the elephant of Indonesia, or rather Borneo and Sumatra; Indian elephant inhabiting Nepal, Thailand, Laos, India, Bhutan, Vietnam, China; elephant of the island of Sri Lanka. Usually in conversations and publications the term “Indian elephant” is used, meaning all Asian elephants.

Indian elephant dimensions

The Indian elephant is large and strong. In weight and size it is second only to its African counterpart, i.e. Among all mammals on the planet, this animal ranks second in size.

The maximum height of a male is 3.2 meters, females can reach a height of 2.2-2.4 meters. Males can weigh a maximum of 5.5 tons.

Females are smaller, their weight can be up to 2.6 tons. IN total mass About 15% of the body is skeletal weight. The largest representative of the family lived in India and was shot dead in 1924. It weighed 8 tons, its body was 8 meters long, and the height of the animal was 3.35 meters. Now the body length of these animals varies from 5.5 to 6.6 meters. They have a tail that is up to 1.5 meters long.

Appearance

If we compare the Indian elephant with the African one, the first one is stockier. Has powerful legs. Due to the fact that the soles of their feet expand upon contact with the surface, animals move well on sand and wetlands. The front legs have 5 toes, the hind legs - 4. The body of elephants is covered with dark gray, almost brown, dry wrinkled skin. The elephants carefully monitor her condition. They love to swim, scratch themselves on the bark and branches of trees, and roll in the dust.

The body is covered with sparse, coarse hair, and in young animals it is thicker and darker, almost brown. Compared to the African elephant, the Indian elephant has a different head shape, so an inhabitant of the African continent can easily be distinguished from an inhabitant of India. Has two small protuberances on its head. The sides of the head are slightly compressed. Unlike its African counterpart, the Indian elephant's ears are small.

The elephant has a trunk, the length of which is 1.5-1.8 meters. These are muscles that are fused upper lip and nose. The trunk easily holds a whole bucket of water. At the end it has one finger-like process, and African elephant there are two of them.

The tusks are huge fangs. The females of this animal do not have tusks. Sometimes males do not have tusks either. This is usually typical for representatives of the Sri Lankan population. Maximum length tusks - 1.6 meters. Their Weight Limit can be 25 kg. For comparison, an African elephant's tusks can be 2.5 meters long and weigh 45 kg. The longest recorded length of Asian elephant tusks was 1.8 meters and their weight was 40 kg. The animal has 4 molars, which change 4 times during its life. Milk teeth fall out at 15-16, molars grow in, then they are replaced at intervals of 12 years. When the last molars wear out, the elephant dies of starvation. Life expectancy in the wild is 60-65 years, in some cases – 70 years. Under certain conditions, the animal can live 80 years.

The Indian elephant is a long-liver; in captivity, it lives up to 70-80 years.

Behavior and nutrition of the Indian elephant

Indian elephants live in groups consisting of mature females, their daughters and offspring. The head of such a group is an adult female. The herd size is 10-20 animals. Previously, groups were much larger until humans began to actively and frequently invade wildlife. Males create separate groups, but these herds are fickle, they can break up, then unite again, but include new males. You can often see that in a group of females there is an adult male. However, he is not a full member of this herd.

Listen to the voice of the Indian elephant

The diet of Indian elephants is based on plant foods. This animal eats leaves, grass, bananas, tree bark, roots and sugar cane. It can enter farmlands in search of food, which causes a negative attitude from people.

These animals feed in one area for only a few days, then move to the next. This is due to the fact that these animals eat a lot and quickly consume the vegetation around them. Each herd has its own territory, its area is approximately 30-40 sq. km. Elephants do not enter other people's property. They have excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell, but these animals have poor vision. The Indian elephant has a very high level intelligence, in this he is second only to the dolphin. Elephants have a developed sense of mutual assistance.

Reproduction

Males become sexually mature at 12-15 years of age. From this moment on, every year they experience a condition called musth. During this period, their level of the sex hormone testosterone increases, its concentration increases almost 100 times. This period lasts 2 months. At this time, males are aggressive, practically do not eat and spend all their time searching for a female ready to breed. In the African elephant, must passes calmly, without such manifestations. Once the Asian elephant has found a suitable female, it engages in combat with other males. And only after defeating all his rivals does he win her favor. This lasts about 20 days.

The Indian elephant is a herbivore.

The duration of pregnancy is 18-22 months. Usually one baby elephant is born, in rare cases - two. The newborn weighs 100 kg and reaches 1 meter in height. The female feeds the cub with milk for 2 years. Females become sexually mature at 10-12 years. Young females spend their entire lives next to their mother, and males leave the herd at the age of 8-12 years.

Indian elephant and man

This animal has almost no enemies in the wild; only and. In ancient times, elephants were enemies, but now they are practically never found in the wild. A small population of these lions remains only in the northwestern part of India in the Gir Nature Reserve. On at the moment these predators do not pose a threat to elephants.

People have been taming these animals for many centuries. They were used by the army to move and transport weapons, and they took part in rituals. Every ruler of India had elephants at his palace, which demonstrated his power and wealth. Elephants have also been used in heavy construction work. These animals are smart and quick-witted, and also take root well in captivity.

The enemies of the Indian elephant are leopards.

IN recent years In India, powerful mechanisms and tools are used everywhere on construction sites, so elephants are no longer involved in this work. Human agricultural activities, namely plowing and expansion of farmland, have a negative impact on the population size. Now in Asia the number of Indian elephants is up to 50 thousand individuals. People shoot these animals because they harm their lands and simply interfere with their normal lives. Reduces the population and shooting for tusks. In 1986, this animal was listed in the International Red Book. Now there is a dynamic of a constant reduction in the number of elephants by 2-3% annually.

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Since ancient times, almost every country has had an animal that is its symbol. Like many other representatives of the fauna, our distant ancestors endowed the elephant with extraordinary magical power. Talismans in the form of figurines of this animal can now be seen in almost every apartment. What is it for different nations elephant, a symbol of what does this royal hero represent?

Feng Shui meaning of an elephant figurine

In the teachings of Feng Shui, the elephant is one of the most striking symbols. According to this teaching, there must be a figurine in the house depicting this amazingly majestic and very beautiful animal. The elephant is credited with a number of very valuable qualities that it gives to humans, namely:

well-being and stability;
wisdom and kindness;
reliability and strength;
luck and endurance.

It is believed that the figure of an elephant attracts good luck to the house, just as a living elephant draws in water with its trunk. A very small souvenir elephant has the ability to fill your home with warmth and love. To protect household members from negative energy, the elephant must be in a visible place. A what does an elephant mean as a symbol reliability? The point is that, due to its large size, he is an animal that stands firmly on its own two feet. By this analogy, an elephant figurine is believed to have the power to create a strong foundation for a prosperous and sustainable lifestyle.

What is the elephant for Chinese culture?

What is it in China? elephant? Symbol of what does he personify there? This majestic animal in the Celestial Empire is the emblem supreme authority, symbolizing power and enormous strength. A donated elephant figurine is considered very valuable in China, as it gives its owner good health and long life. In addition to power, the elephant for the inhabitants of this country is a symbol of such valuable qualities as:

prudence;
insight;
strength and energy.

In China, the elephant is considered a sacred animal, and therefore the attitude towards it in this country is special.

The meaning of the elephant in Indian culture

In the Indian pantheon of gods, the elephant is still revered as deeply as in ancient times. In this country he is given a special, honorable place. In Buddhism, a white elephant is dedicated to Buddha, because it was precisely such an elephant that appeared to Queen Maya with the news that the royal ruler of the world had been born. In India it is also generally accepted that the existence of humanity is possible only as long as these great and calm animals hold the world on their tusks. Elephant in India - symbol deities. The god of happiness, Ganesha, is depicted as a man with the head of an elephant. Young girls turn to him asking for love, and married women turn to him to save their family. Therefore, the elephant here represents love and marital fidelity. Indians decorate not only houses and temples, but also public institutions with figurines of this giant. In addition to figurines, in India there are many images of him in the form of drawings, both in temples and in homes. The inhabitants of this country endow the elephant with the noblest qualities, such as:

prudence;
the personification of calm;
extraordinary deep wisdom;
dignity.

In India, as in China, the elephant is a sacred animal. Moreover in India elephant - symbol of the country, as depicted on her coat of arms.

What does the elephant symbolize in African culture?

In African culture, as well as in others, special place given to the animal world. Residents ancient Africa not only used in their everyday life various witchcraft and magical rituals, but also endowed animals living nearby with such abilities. In their opinion, he also had mystical powers. elephant. Symbol of what is this a royal creature for Africans? First of all, the inhabitants of this continent associated the elephant exclusively with positive traits:

strong character;
deep mind;
developed intelligence;
logic and intuition;
peacefulness and patience;
integrity.

It was also a symbol of longevity and prosperity. There is information that an elephant standing on its hind legs was an adornment of the banners under which warriors went into battle. But an elephant with its trunk raised was a symbol of victory in Africa. Many frescoes that have survived and survived to this day depict the direct participation of these strong animals in battles.

What does the symbol of an elephant with its trunk raised mean?

Almost all feng shui elephant figurines are made with a raised trunk. Even in ancient times, this beautiful large animal was the personification of strength. The trumpet sound of the voice made by its trunk was considered a victory cry. The elephant is depicted in this form in ancient paintings and frescoes. The trunk raised up symbolizes victory over evil. But if an elephant figurine standing in a house has its trunk raised up, this is a sign of the following signs:

material wealth will appear in your life;
you can avoid unreasonable spending;
it will help you to be prudent and prudent in financial matters.

In a word, such a figurine can bring stability to your financial situation. An elephant will also help you avoid troubles at work. To do this, place a small elephant in your workplace or hang a picture of this animal next to it.

What does an elephant with its trunk down symbolize?

We figured out a little about what an elephant represents: the symbol of what is with a raised trunk, we found out. But there are figures depicting these giants with their trunks down. There are several versions of what such an elephant symbolizes, namely:

motherhood;
fertility and abundance;
longevity.

Some do not accept a figurine depicting an elephant with its trunk down as a talisman, considering its meaning unfavorable. But this is a wrong assumption. According to the teachings of Feng Shui, if after the appearance of such a figurine, troubles began in your family, it is not because the elephant’s trunk is down, but because you have placed it incorrectly in your home.

Elephant figurine is a good gift

Nowadays, elephant figurines are not only confidently returning to our apartments, but it is also customary to give them as gifts. Just before you buy such a gift, you need to decide what kind of souvenir you want it to be. elephant, symbol of what? If you give such a figurine, you need to know exactly what you want to wish for its new owner.

If you want to please a woman in business with such a souvenir leadership position, then she needs to buy a silver elephant. Being responsible in her position for the work of her subordinates, it is very important for her to have wisdom in making certain decisions. It is the figurine of a silver elephant that can endow it with such quality.
A malachite elephant as a gift is ideal for people who want to start new stage in your life (find new job, get an education, open your own business), but are too indecisive for this.
White marble elephant figurine - great gift hot-tempered and unbalanced people. This will help them become calmer and more resilient, resistant to life’s adversities.
A crystal elephant figurine would be very beautiful as a gift. It must be treated very carefully, since such an elephant is able to take away all adversity from its owner and protect it from the blows of fate.
It is customary to give a golden elephant (or a figurine made of another yellow metal) as a talisman to athletes. He helps them get together during the competition and achieve the coveted victory.
But the amber elephant is good gift For jealous husband or jealous wives. It will definitely help its new owner get rid of this negative quality.

Conclusion

We learned a little about what good qualities people endowed such a cute animal as elephant, symbol of what he personifies. Now everyone is again beginning to believe in the miraculous properties of their figures. Small elephants made by skilled craftsmen have long been no longer considered a sign of philistinism, and collectors pay a lot of money for antique porcelain figurines depicting these and other animals. True, for many, small figurines of elephants in the house made of porcelain, metal, glass or other materials are a decorative element. But the majority still believe in their power and try to place them in their homes, according to the teachings of Feng Shui. The strongest symbol is seven elephants in a row, one smaller than the other. They harmonize perfectly with the decoration modern apartments, symbolizing good luck and happiness in the home.