Publisher's Synopsis
Asian elephants live in groups of five or more. Sometimes, males join other herds, but they usually stay with their mothers for about 10 to 20 years. Females raise all of the offspring of a herd, but the oldest female takes on the leadership role as the matriarch of the herd and makes decisions on the survival of the herd. The trunk of an elephant has around 100,000 muscles. Male elephants typically leave the herd between ages eight and thirteen. As they age, they become more competitive and spend more time alone. An elephant's trunk is a remarkable collection of muscles. The long trunk reaches downward and is its primary tool for feeding. It is a highly mobile structure and evolved from the upper lip and nose. The two-fingered tip serves many functions, including picking, plucking, and smelling. Elephants use their trunks to eat grass and to drink water. They have one dominant tusk, but both tusks are used. An elephant calf can weigh 200 pounds and stand three feet high. It can recognize its mother by sound, scent, and touch. It can be taught to control its trunk in a matter of months. The last set of molars is lost in an elephant's early forties. It is not until about a year after birth that it is ready to be separated from its mother. However, it is important to note that an elephant has the longest childhood phase among all higher primates.
