Learning Objectives
- Learn about elephants and their characteristics
- Understand how baby elephants grow and live with their families
- Know about the habitats and food of elephants
- Appreciate the need to protect elephants and their homes
Key Concepts
Meet Nandu the Elephant
Nandu is a baby elephant. Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. A baby elephant is called a calf. When Nandu was born, he was already about 90 cm tall and weighed about 100 kg! Baby elephants can stand up within a few hours of being born. Nandu drinks his mother's milk and stays close to her for many years.
Elephant Families
Elephants live in herds (groups). The oldest female elephant leads the herd, and she is called the matriarch. Baby elephants are taken care of by their mother and other female elephants in the herd, like aunts and grandmothers. Male elephants leave the herd when they grow up. Elephants are very caring and protective of their young ones.
What Elephants Eat
Elephants are herbivores, which means they eat only plants. They eat grass, leaves, bark, roots, and fruits. An adult elephant can eat up to 150 kg of food in a single day! They also drink lots of water, about 100 to 200 litres a day. Elephants use their long trunk to pick up food and put it in their mouth.
Protecting Elephants
Elephants need large forests to find enough food and water. When forests are cut down, elephants lose their homes. This is why we must protect forests and wildlife. In India, elephants are found in states like Kerala, Karnataka, Assam, and Uttarakhand. We have national parks and sanctuaries where elephants are protected.
Important Terms
- Calf: A baby elephant
- Herd: A group of elephants that live together
- Matriarch: The oldest female elephant who leads the herd
- Trunk: The long nose of an elephant, used for breathing, smelling, drinking, and grabbing food
- Herbivore: An animal that eats only plants
- Sanctuary: A protected area where animals are kept safe
Quick Revision
- Elephants are the largest land animals
- Baby elephants can stand soon after birth
- Elephants live in herds led by the oldest female
- Elephants eat plants, grass, and fruits (herbivores)
- An elephant eats about 150 kg of food daily
- We must protect forests to save elephants