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  • Asian Elephant

Asian elephant

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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

60 to 70 years

60-70 years in the wild, up to 80 years under human care

fruits

Diet

Mainly browse and grass

Mainly browse and grass. Minerals taken from salt licks.

Habitat

Habitat

Grassland and forest

Grassland and forest, from sea level to 3,000 m asl

range

Range

Fragmented populations

Fragmented populations in tropical Asia

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The Asian elephants

Asian Elephant

Eating all day

Elephants in the wild can spend up to 19 hours a day feasting on a variety of plants. In southern India, elephants were to eat up to 82 different plant types.

Each of our elephants get around 150 kg of grass and leaves a day, in 20kg ‘bite-sized’ chunks every hour. Watch out for the cheeky antics of Tun – she is known to ‘steal’ food from even the matriarch of the herd, Jamilah.

Asian Elephant Trick or Treat

Trick or treat

While browse makes up the bulk of their diet, our elephants also enjoy the occasional fruit such as bananas, apples, watermelons, mangosteens. Sugarcane, tamarind and carrots are also given, but only as treats.

Look out for the new app-controlled feeding boxes in Chawang’s exhibit, marking our move towards activity-based exhibits. At the tap of a phone, the boxes release a ‘rain’ of peanuts and pellets. The random timings never fail to catch our 40-year-old bull by surprise.

Asian Elephant Tusk, Tusk

Tusk, tusk

Tusks are modified incisors of an elephant. Only male elephants have tusks, unlike the African elephants where both males and females have tusks. Elephants use tusks to strip tree bark and to dig for water and salt.

They're also valued as ivory in the illegal wildlife trade. Since 2013, eight tonnes of ivory have been seized at Singaporean ports. It’s time we take poachers to task. Say no to ivory!

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The keeper

Zoo keeper

Shafiq Shamuri

Senior keeper
Could you share more about Neha?
Zoo keeper

Shafiq Shamuri

Senior keeper

Could you share more about Neha?

She’s very playful. I’ve only taken care of two calves. Every elephant has a different personality. Neha is gentler. They’re only playing but they’re like one tonne, so just imagine the force when they pushed!
Zoo keeper

Shafiq Shamuri

Senior keeper
Hi Shafiq, glad you could make it. We heard you got held up at a training with Neha.
Zoo keeper

Shafiq Shamuri

Senior keeper

How is Neha doing in elephant 'kindergarten'?

She gets daily 'classes' where the keepers conduct training for her. This is for us to get blood samples from her for EEHV testing. Initially, it was challenging. The moment we inserted a needle, she bolted. But she would come back for the food. We even tried using a numbing cream. It didn’t work! We had to be very patient and keep trying. Food rewards and trust are important. Neha now responds well to the training and and voluntary blood draws are done weekly as part of her medical routine.
Zoo keeper

Shafiq Shamuri

Senior keeper
What about the other elephants, how are they like?
Zoo keeper

Shafiq Shamuri

Senior keeper

Could you share more about the other elephants?

As they are older, they are calmer. Except for Tun. If she’s happy, she will run around in circles. When she’s frustrated, it shows too. When we do special feedings for guests, she will reach out to get the food. She’s a greedy one!. All the guests love her.

 

 

 

Together, we protect wildlife

Herpes in elephants

Herpes in elephants

Neha’s older brother Nila died from EEHV in 2013. He was only two. Which is why our keepers take every precaution with Neha. At six months of age, she started elephant ‘kindergarten’. Keepers train her on daily ‘playdates’ to get her used to health check procedures. She now understands and responds to 10 instructions given during medical training.

The IUCN Status

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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