Description: Asian Elephants are smaller than African Elephants and have smoother, darker skin and smaller ears. They also have a single, finger-like projection on their trunks, whereas the African Elephant has two. Elephants have large, ridged teeth so they can eat coarse bark, leaves, branches and grass. They use their trunks to pull down branches and strip trees. Females are smaller than males and lack tusks - if they are present they appear as short, stubby growths known as 'tushes' and are generally only visible when their mouth is open.

Diet: Elephants are herbivores, often eating up to 160 kg of vegetation per day.

In the wild: The basic family unit is made up of about six members and consists of a mature female, her current offspring and juvenile offspring. These groups join other related family units to create a herd. Male offspring leave the group when they reach seven years of age and join herds during the breeding season only. Because of their size, elephants don’t have any natural predators.

Threats: There are two threats to their survival: habitat destruction from farming and logging; and poaching for the ivory trade.

Vale Tricia: Perth Zoo and the wider community mourn our beloved Asian Elephant, Tricia. At 65-years-old, Tricia was one of the oldest elephants in the world, and while we knew the time to say goodbye was approaching, it’s still heart breaking. Read more.

Saving Wildlife Together: In partnership with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, we’ve established Wildlife Protection Units. A dedicated team is tasked with monitoring and safeguarding the remaining Sumatran Elephant population in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem.

Find out how you can help.