The Asian elephant is since the disappearance of its ancestor the mammoth, the largest land mammal after the African elephant! What distinguishes it from its African cousin are its shorter ears, its smaller size and its trunk, which has only one finger at its end while there are two in the African elephant. The trunk is actually an extension of their lip and nose, allowing them to communicate, carry water and food to the mouth, and to pull and carry branches. Their trunks are composed of ivory and are actually two teeth, used as a tool and as a defense in fighting. The elephants live in herds of about twenty individuals and are gathered around the matriarch, the leader of the group. They spend most of their time looking for food. They feed mainly on leaves, bush branches or trees, fruits or bark. Symbol of wisdom, they are also known for their intelligence and memory, hence the expression "to have a memory like an elephant".
