🐘 The Urban Elephant

About Elephants

Understanding the Magnificent Creatures

Majestic elephant in natural habitat

Cultural Significance

Elephants hold profound cultural significance across many civilizations. In Hindu tradition, Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity, is revered as the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and sciences. Elephants symbolize wisdom, strength, and good fortune, making them powerful spiritual guardians for homes and sacred spaces.

Intelligence & Memory

Elephants are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. They possess exceptional memory capabilities, can recognize themselves in mirrors, and show complex emotions including grief, joy, and empathy. Their ability to remember locations, individuals, and experiences for decades has made them symbols of wisdom and knowledge.

Social Structure

Elephants live in matriarchal societies led by the oldest female. They form strong family bonds and demonstrate remarkable cooperation and care for their young and elderly. This social structure represents the importance of family, community, and respect for elders in many cultures.

Conservation Status

Both African and Asian elephants face threats from habitat loss and poaching. By choosing handcrafted wooden elephant statues, you honor these magnificent creatures while supporting sustainable art forms that don't harm wildlife. Each statue serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect these gentle giants.

Amazing Elephant Facts

1

Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild

2

They have excellent memory and can remember other elephants for decades

3

Baby elephants are called calves and weigh around 250 pounds at birth

4

Elephants are highly intelligent and show empathy towards others

5

They can communicate through infrasonic sounds over long distances

6

An elephant's trunk contains over 40,000 muscles

7

They are one of the few animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror

8

Elephants mourn their dead and have been observed holding 'funerals'

The 60 Names of Elephants

Not one or two — altogether, there are 60 names. All of them are pure Tamil names.

Names of the Male Elephant

  • Yaanai (black one)
  • Vezham (white elephant)
  • Kaliru
  • Kalabam
  • Maathangam
  • Kaimma (animal with tusks)
  • Umbar
  • Umbal (lofty one)
  • Anjanaavathi
  • Arasuvaa
  • Alliyan
  • Arupadai
  • Aambal
  • Aanai
  • Ipham
  • Irathi
  • Kunjchram
  • Irul
  • Thumbu
  • Valvilangu
  • Thoongal
  • Thol
  • Karaiyadi (one with pestle-like legs)
  • Erumbi
  • Perumaa (big animal)
  • Vaaranam (one with conch-like head)
  • Pootkai (one with hollow trunk)
  • Oruthal
  • Ongal (mountain-like)
  • Naaga
  • Pongadi (one with big feet)
  • Kumbi
  • Thumbi
  • Naalvaai (one with a dangling mouth)
  • Kunjchram (gathered/assembled one)
  • Kareṇu
  • Uvaa (collected one)
  • Kari (black one)
  • Kalvan (dark one)
  • Kayam
  • Chinduram
  • Vayamaa
  • Pugarmugam (one with marks on its face)
  • Thandhi
  • Madaavalam
  • Thandaavalam
  • Kaimmalai (mountain-like with trunk)
  • Vazhuwai (rounded, compact one)
  • Mandhamaa
  • Marunmaa
  • Mathagayam
  • Bodhagam
  • Viramali
  • Madhoṛkadham (another name of Mathagayam)
  • Kadagam (a herd or group of elephants)

Names of the Female Elephant

  • Pidi
  • Athavai
  • Vadavai
  • Kariṇi
  • Aththini

Together, these make a total of 60 names for the elephant.