Have you ever seen an elephant so big it looks like it can have its own gravity? Well, the big one in this video sure looks big enough to do it! This famous statue has many names: Bogeshwara, Longcross and Mr. Kabini. He lives in the Nagarhole-Bandipur forest area of Karnataka. Bogeshwara is a huge Asian elephant easily recognizable as he roams the backwaters of Kabini thanks to his long tusks. His tusks are so long, in fact, that their tips seem to cross each other, measuring about 8.3 feet and 7.7 feet respectively!
Although Bhogeshwara is huge in size, he is known for his gentle and calm disposition. He often walks by the stagnant water, eats grass and drinks water. Until recently, Bhogeshwara was one of the largest Asian elephants out there. Unfortunately, he passed away recently. The suave giant was estimated to be around 60 years old.
How big is the elephant?
Watching this video, it’s hard to believe there’s anything bigger than the elephant Bhogeshwara. Bhogeshwara is an Asian elephant (elephant elephant), an endangered species that stands 6.5 to 11.5 feet tall, 21 feet long, and weighs about 11,000 pounds! These mammoth-like mammals are the largest land mammals living on the Asian continent!
While Asia appears to be huge animals, they are not the largest elephants in the world. This title belongs to the African elephant (African ivory), which is the largest land animal on Earth! African elephants are about 11 feet tall, 19 to 24 feet long and weigh about 6 tons (or 12,000 pounds).
What factors affect the size of an elephant?
Speaking of size, there are several factors that affect the size of an elephant. For example, diet plays a role; elephants living in areas with abundant food sources tend to be larger than those in areas with fewer food sources. Climate also affects size; elephants that live in colder climates tend to be larger than those in warmer climates because the extra fat helps them stay warm and conserve energy in cold weather. Also, genetics play a role. Due to genetic differences between populations, some elephant populations have been found to grow larger than others.
The Asian elephant Bogeshwara must have lived a good life. He lived a full 60 years and grew to be one of the largest elephants of his kind – just watch this video and you’ll see just how huge these amazing creatures are!
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
