Here are some of the differences between African and Indian elephants, since this question always comes up whilst on safari.
African elephant – Loxodonta africana
- Back more or less concave and saddle shaped
- Ears enormous and when extended cover the shoulders
- Forehead rounded and sloping
- Trunk with two pointed projections at the upper and lower parts of the tip of the trunk
- Tusks large and developed in both sexes
- Bulkier and taller at the shoulder than the Indian species
Indian Elephant – Elephas maximus
- Back convex and steeply sloping
- Ears small, triangular and do not cover the shoulders
- Forehead has prominent bulges above the eyes
- Trunk has only one upper projection at the tip
- Tusks small and usually only visible in the male
- Obviously smaller than its African counterpart
Dean Robinson
Senior ranger
