Have you ever seen an elephant so big it looks like it could have its own gravity? Well, the elephant in this video certainly seems big enough to do it! This famous elephant went by many names: Bogeshwara, Longcross, and Mr. Kabini. He lived in the Nagarhole-Bandipur forest region in Karnataka. Bogeshwara was a gargantuan Asian elephant that was easily recognized as he roamed the Kabini backwaters, due to his massively long tusks. His tusks were so long, in fact, that they appeared to cross over each other at the tips, measuring around 8.3 feet and 7.7 feet long!
Although Bhogeshwara was ginormous, he was known to be gentle and have a calm disposition. He would often stroll along the shores of backwaters, eating grass and drinking water. Until recently, Bhogeshwara was one of the biggest Asian elephants out there. Unfortunately, he passed away recently of old age. Estimates guessed that the gentle giant was around 60 years old.
How Big Do Elephants Get?
Watching this video, it is hard to believe that there could be anything bigger than Bhogeshwara the elephant. Bhogeshwara was an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), which is an endangered species that grows between 6.5 to 11.5 feet tall and 21 feet long, and weighs around 11,000 pounds! These mammoth-looking mammals are the largest land mammal living on the Asian continent!
Although Asian elephants are enormous animals, they are not the largest elephant out there. That title belongs to the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), which is the largest land animal on earth! African elephants grow around 11 feet tall and 19 to 24 feet long, and weigh around 6 tons (or 12,000 pounds).
What Factors Affect an Elephant’s Size?
When it comes to size, there are several factors that can affect how big an elephant will become. For example, diet plays a role; elephants living in areas with more plentiful food sources tend to be larger than those living in areas with less food available. Climate also affects size; elephants living in colder climates tend to be larger than those living in warmer climates because extra fat helps them stay warm and conserve energy in cold weather. Additionally, genetics play a role; some populations of elephants have been found to grow larger than others due to genetic differences between populations.
Bogeshwara the Asian elephant certainly must have had a good life. He lived for an entire 60 years and grew to be one of the largest elephants of his kind — just take a look at this video and you’ll get a feel for just how gigantic these amazing creatures can get!
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