Elephant Days and Nights

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The elephant is a keystone biological species in tropical forests across Asia, and over the past four thousand years has dominated the cultural, social and economic life of people, as has no other creature.

The author has been studying wild elephants in southern India since 1980. This is the story of his work on these elephants: their ecology, social behaviour, interactions with people, and the problems they face. His account interweaves the biology of the elephant with observation of the animal in the field. Each chapter emphasizes a particular aspect of elephant life - reproduction, feeding habits, crop raiding and manslaughter, social organization and family life, seasonal cycles, and their slaughter at the hands of ivory poachers. Elephant Days and Nights will be welcomed by all interested in elephants, amateur enthusiasts as well as welcomed by understand the problem facing Asiatic elephants.

About the Author:

Raman Sukumar's study of the Asian elephant earned him a doctorate in 1985 from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, where he is on the faculty of the Centre for Ecological Sciences.

Excerpts from Reviews:

'...(this) is an intimate record...of the particular relationship that the elephant has with the people of India. ...Sukumar treats his majestic subject with love and humour but without sentimentality.'

- Jan Morris, The Independent, London.

'This book is a landmark in the natural history of elephants in India. ...It is solidly based on personal field experience, often gained at considerable risk. ...It is sound source material...(with) excellent photographs.'

- M. Krishnan, Indian Review of Books

'Nothing comparable with tread on those giant footprints, once the last elephant has walked the earth. All those who are determined to avert sucha tragedy must possess a copy of this excellent book.'

- Sunday Herald

CONTENTS