Thailand

What is the National Animal of Thailand?

national animal thailand

Thailand national animal – Elephant

The national animal of Thailand is Elephant because elephants were used in the past to carry the king and other people. Elephants are also known for their intelligence, being able to understand and follow commands. Thailand has many elephants; they are a symbol of Thailand.

The national animal of Thailand is Elephant because the elephant is a big part of Thailand’s history and culture. Elephants have played an important role in Thai religions, holidays and festivals. They were used in the military and were valuable assets to their owners. The elephant continues to be an important part of Thai culture to this day.

Elephant Physical Characteristic

The elephant is a huge creature, with a long nose and two large ears. The animal’s back is high, the legs are strong and the body is covered with dark gray skin. Thailand Elephants are mostly grayish or brown in colour. They flap their ears to move air around their body, sort of like a fan!

Scientific Classification of Elephant

Scientific Name Loxodonta africana Population Size ABOVE 15,000
Kingdom Animalia Life Span 60-75 YRS
Phylum Chordata Weight 3,600-5,400
Class Mammalia Height 3-3.5 M
Order Proboscidea Length 2.2-4 M
Family Elephantidae Top Speed 40 KM/H

It is a herbivorous animal that lives in herds and depends on its noise to communicate. Females look after their young, who live in the herd until they reach adulthood.

Fun Facts about Elephant – Thailand national animal

  • Elephant is the official and native animal of Thailand country.
  • Elephants are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants.
  • Elephants need up to 150kg of food per day.
  • Elephants use their tusks to dig for ground water. An adult elephant needs to drink around 50 gallons of water a day.
  • Elephants are the largest land-living mammals on Earth.
  • Elephants use their tusks for many things, including digging for water or food, lifting objects, and fighting.
  • Elephants have excellent memories and can remember things for a long time.
  • The elephant brain is larger than any other land animal.
  • They flap their ears to move air around their body, sort of like a fan!
  • There are two species of elephants: African and Asian.
  • The average elephant eats up to 300 pounds of food per day!
  • Elephants have around 150,000 muscle units in their trunk.
  • Elephants can live to be over 70 years old.
  • A baby elephant is called a calf.

Species of Elephants

There are 3 species of elephants in the world: African bush elephant, African forest elephant and Asian elephant. The Asian and African elephants are classified in two separate genera.

The Asian elephant is Thailand’s national animal. It lives throughout the country, most commonly in the north-east. The population was about 2,000 to 3,000 in the mid-1990s but is now estimated at less than 2,000.

Asian elephants can be found in many places throughout Thailand such as Phuket, Surin and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries in Thailand.

Why is Elephant the national animal of Thailand?

The elephant was once considered as a war machine, used to carry soldiers or even attack them. In addition to this function, elephants were also used for transportation or to carry heavy loads. But today, when people think about elephants, they think about them as circus animals or as a symbol of Thailand.

The elephant was chosen as the national animal because of its historical significance as well as its importance in Thai culture. So due to all these facts, Elephant decalared as national animal of Thailand.