With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:
- The leader of an elephant group is a female.
- The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
- An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
- Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only
Indian elephants live in matriarchal societies where the oldest and most experienced female leads the herd, while males typically live solitary lives or form bachelor groups. The gestation period of elephants is the longest among land mammals, ranging from 18 to 22 months.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Elephant herds are matriarchal, led by the oldest and most experienced female (matriarch), while adult males usually live alone or in bachelor groups.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Elephants have the longest gestation period among mammals, ranging from 18 to 22 months, with an average of about 22 months.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Female elephants can continue to reproduce well beyond 40 years of age, often calving into their 50s and sometimes even early 60s, though fertility may decline with age.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Karnataka has the highest elephant population in India (around 6,000), followed by Assam and Kerala. Kerala ranks third, not first.
📝 Short Notes: Indian Elephants
- Scientific Name: Elephas maximus indicus (subspecies of Asian elephant)
- Protection Status: Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Appendix I of CITES; IUCN Red List - Endangered
- Social Structure: Matriarchal herds of 6-12 individuals led by the oldest female; adult males are solitary or form temporary bachelor groups
- Reproduction: Gestation period 18-22 months (longest among mammals); females reach sexual maturity at 10-12 years; can reproduce until 50-60 years of age; typically give birth to one calf every 4-5 years
- Distribution in India: Karnataka (highest population ~6,000), Assam (~5,700), Kerala (~3,000), Tamil Nadu, and northeastern states
- Project Elephant: Launched in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors; 33 elephant reserves established across 16 states
- Major Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, poaching for ivory (though Indian elephants have smaller tusks than African elephants), railway and road accidents
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