With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 2 and 4 only
3. C. 3 only
4. D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: A

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Indian elephant is one of three extant recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia. The oldest female in an elephant herd is always the leader. Statement 2 is correct: Elephants have the longest gestation period of all mammals. The average gestation period of an elephant is about 640 to 660 days, or roughly 95 weeks. Statement 3 is not correct: Female elephants live for 60 to 70 years, but only have about four offspring throughout their lifetime. Fertility decreases after age 50 in elephants, but the pattern differed from a total loss of fertility in menopausal women with many elephants continuing to reproduce at least until the age of 65 years. Therefore it is not till the age of 40 years only. Statement 4 is not correct: South India had the highest number of wild elephants – 14,612. Among the south Indian states, Karnataka leads the table with 6,049 elephants followed by Kerala.