African vs Indian

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