In Asia, elephants can be
found in habitats ranging from open grassland to thick forests, and
from the Himalayan foothills right down to the shores of the Indian
Ocean. They are a tropical species that depends upon the kind of
lush vegetation that comes with lots of rainfall.
photo M. Noonan
In fact, despite their
enormous size, Asian elephants are often found in such thick
vegetation (as in the picture below), they are difficult to spot.
photo M. Noonan
Asian elephants
are more active at dawn and dusk, and during the night, than they
are during the day. This is because the midday heat in the tropics
presents a real challenge for elephants who must avoid overheating.
That is why daytime elephant observers commonly find them avoiding
activity and resting in the shade of trees like the mother-daughter
pair pictured below.