Asian Elephant: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Horns and Trunks · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. An Asian elephant eats about 150 kg of vegetation every day.
2. An Asian elephant spends half to three quarters of its whole day eating.
3. The Asian elephant's trunk has only one fingerlike tip. African elephants have two.
4. Bulls aged 10 to 20 go through 'musth' once a year. Their testosterone can climb to 100 times its usual level, and they turn aggressive.
5. Scientists sort Asian elephant sounds into three main types: growls, squeaks and snorts.

The quiz

1. How much vegetation does an Asian elephant eat per day?

• About 15 kg
• About 150 kg (correct)
• About 50 kg
• About 500 kg

It eats about 150 kg of vegetation per day.

2. How much of the day does an Asian elephant spend eating?

• 5 to 10 %
• 20 to 30 %
• 50 to 75 % (correct)
• 90 to 100 %

It spends half to three quarters of its day eating.

3. How many fingerlike tips does an Asian elephant's trunk have?

• Two
• Three
• None
• One (correct)

Its trunk has only one fingerlike tip, unlike African elephants' two.

4. How high does testosterone get during musth?

• Up to 100 times normal (correct)
• Twice normal
• 10 times normal
• It drops to zero

During musth, testosterone can climb to 100 times its usual level.

5. Which three basic sounds do Asian elephants make?

• Hisses, purrs and hoots
• Growls, squeaks and snorts (correct)
• Whistles, clicks and barks
• Bellows, chirps and howls

Its sounds fall into three main types: growls, squeaks and snorts.

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