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Asian elephants live throughout southeastern Asia. They have had a relationship with man for several thousand years in Asia, and are very important culturally in this part of the world. Asian elephants have smaller ears than the African elephant. They have 2 "domes" on the top of their head, and a more humped back than the African elephant. Their skin can show a pinkish discoloration, which is a depigmentation found only in the Asian elephant. They have 1 "finger" at the end of their trunk, and only the males have large tusks. The females have no tusks or very small ones referred to as "tushes". There are about 35,000 wild Asian elephants left in Asia. Asian elephants are considered an endangered species.
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Hank
Asian male, born January 17, 1988
Hank is one of very few elephants born in North America. He is growing rapidly and is already taller than the adult females! He will be a very large elephant when he is fully mature. He is very rambunctious and loves to dig in the dirt and throw as much as he can on himself.
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Peggy
Asian female born in 1958
Before arriving at the sanctuary, Peggy had a career as a circus performer. She is quite tall for a female, and is very calm and dignified. As an older elephant, Peggy is a good calming influence for Hank, the young Asian male. When she is excited, Peggy makes an unusual noise like a barking seal!
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Betty Boop
Asian female born in 1972
Betty Boop is fondly called "Booper" by the staff. She came to the sanctuary from a circus where she had been performing for many years. She was retired because of a hip injury that happened when another elephant hurt her. Booper's favorite pastime is pushing down small trees to eat the leaves, but mostly for fun!
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