Elephants and India have a very deep connection. From the time of the puranas they have been a very important part of Indian culture and tradition. There are numerous instances in ancient Hindu texts and Hindu mythology about the majesty and importance of Elephants. From being the ride of the gods and the ancient kings to the symbol of one of the most important Hindu god Ganesha, Elephants in India form a very important part of the life and culture of Indians. Indian elephants are also symbol of royalty and are used in numerous celebrations and festivals.
Out of the three species of elephant found in Asia, the Indian elephant is one. The other two species are found in Sri Lanka and Thailand. Elephants in India has a thinner body, longer front legs and are usually larger than their other Asian counterparts. In general these animals are the largest mammals found in land and weigh anywhere around 3 to 5 tons. The Elephants in India are trained to do many domestic and other heavy works. This tradition of capturing elephants and using them for domestic purpose has been going for more than 4000 years. They are used to pull heavy loads, fell big trees and transport their trunks, also used in circuses, for sports like polo, as symbols of royalty and means of transport by the ancient kings, and their various body parts are also equally valuable, especially their tusks which can fetch a very high price. Their tusks is also one of the main reason why they are poached thus causing a sharp decline in their numbers. Currently there are about 10000 to 15000 Indian elephants, most of which are scattered around the north eastern states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Some of them are also found in the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Elephants in general are social animals. They live in a group of about 3 to 10 members. They have various community rules and regulations and high sense of discipline. They adhere to all their community rules and regulations and are usually peaceful animals. They are also quite intelligent and are quick in picking up information, signs and symbols that is the reason why it is easy to domesticate them. They have very good memory which helps them to record incidences and recognize people. However sometimes the wild elephants tend to wander into the inhabited area for search of food, causing panic among the residents.
Currently the Elephants in India are facing a sharp decline in numbers, including the threat of extinction, due to loss of habitat area caused by indiscriminate deforestation and also illegal poaching. Besides these many elephants are also run by trains especially in the state of West Bengal where the railway tracks pass through the jungles where these elephants live. However steps are being taken by the authorities to protect them. Thus Elephants in India are valued, worshipped and even domesticated and are an integral part of Indian culture, its social life and tradition.
