The Asian elephant is also called the Indian elephant. It is a large animal. This elephant lives in India and other nearby countries. It is used for work. The Asian elephant can pull or push heavy things.

An Asian elephant has gray or brown skin. It has very little hair. Its skin is dry and full of wrinkles. The elephant has a long trunk. It breathes through two nostrils on the end of its trunk. It has a good sense of smell and sound. The Asian elephant can live about 70 years.

The elephant travels in a herd. The herd has a mother called a cow. Younger elephants stay with the group. Sometimes an older male, called a bull, joins the herd. The herd rests during the day when it is hot. They play in the water. Elephants are good swimmers.

An elephant likes to eat fruit, grass and roots. It eats tree bark in the forest. It picks up food and water with its trunk. Then the elephant moves its trunk to its mouth to eat and drink.

The elephant does have some predators. People hunt the elephant for its tusks. The tusks are made of ivory. The elephant is also losing its land to people building houses.