The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism with a male reaching an average shoulder height of about 3.2 m (10 ft) and weighing up to 5,400 kg (11,900 lb) whereas a female reaches an average shoulder height of about 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in) and weighs up to 4,160 kg (9,170 lb).

The species is also found in other countries of the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and South East Asian countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam with small populations in China.

They consume a variety of diet depending on the habitat and seasons and might include leaves and twigs of fresh foliage, thorn-bearing shoots, flowering plants, fruits and grass.

The species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism with a male reaching an average shoulder height of about 3.2 m (10 ft) and weighing up to 5,400 kg (11,900 lb) whereas a female reaches an average shoulder height of about 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in) and weighs up to 4,160 kg (9,170 lb).

The skin is generally smoother than that of the African species and might consist of smaller patches of white depigmentation or grey spots.

The species is also found in other countries of the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and South East Asian countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam with small populations in China.

During the dry months of January to April, they congregated at high densities of up to five individuals per km2 in river valleys, where they browsed plants that had a much higher protein content than the coarse tall grasses on hill slopes.

In a study area of 1,130 km2 (440 sq mi) in southern India, elephants were recorded to feed on 112 different plant species, most commonly of the order Malvales, and the legume, palm, sedge and true grass families.

Later, when grasses are higher than 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in), they uproot entire clumps, dust them and consume the fresh leave tops, but discard the roots.

When grasses are mature in autumn, they clean and consume the succulent basal portions with the roots, and discard the fibrous blades.

During the dry season from January to April, they mainly browse on both leaves and twigs preferring the fresh foliage, and consume thorn bearing shoots of acacia species without any obvious discomfort.

They feed on the bark of white thorn and other flowering plants, and consume the fruits of wood apple, tamarind, kumbhi and date palm.

[21] During a study in a tropical moist mixed deciduous forested area of 160 km2 (62 sq mi) in Assam, elephants were observed to feed on about 20 species of grasses, plants and trees.

[22] In Nepal's Bardia National Park, elephants consume large amounts of the floodplain grass, particularly during the monsoon season.

This is a gradual process most of the times and is determined by the male's competitive and independent nature and the tolerance of the herd.

The trunk is also used for greeting other elephants and communication of emotions such as excitement, competition, dominance, discipline, reassurance etc.

However, young elephants are often susceptible to attacks by carnivorous predators such as tigers in the areas where their ranges overlap.

An older male experiences a period of heightened sexual and aggressive activity called musth, which is caused by the production of large quantities of testosterone.

[10] Most often, a female gives birth to a single calf (occasionally two might be born), which may weigh between 68–158 kg (150–348 lb).

A calf will also eat its mother's dung for several years, which contain nutrients and symbiotic bacteria that aid in the digestion of plant food.

[2] Significant extents of elephant range and suitable habitat has been lost with their free movement impeded by reservoirs and dams, hydroelectric projects and associated canals, numerous pockets of cultivation and plantations, highways, railway lines, mining and other industrial development.

Poaching of tuskers impact the sex ratios that become highly female biased and the genetic variation is reduced with a decline in fecundity and recruitment.

[30] Many elephants are also captured, raised in captivity and used for various purposes such as logging, tourism, religious festivals and show events.

[31] Young wild-born elephant calves are separated from their mothers in Myanmar for use in Thailand's tourism industry.

Then the calves are often subjected to a 'breaking in' process, which may involve being tied up, confined, starved, beaten and tortured, as a result of which two-thirds may perish.

[33] Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests of Government of India to provide financial and technical support of wildlife management efforts by the states.

[34][35] The Indian elephant is a cultural symbol throughout its range in Asia and appears in various religious traditions and mythologies.

The elephants are treated positively and are sometimes revered as deities, often symbolizing strength, wisdom and good fortune.