What is Sri Lankan elephant?
{{subspeciesbox |name = Sri Lankan elephant |status = EN |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = |image= Srilankan tuskelephant.jpg |image_caption = Male Sri Lankan elephant |image2= Pinnawala 02.jpg |image2_caption = Female elephants at the [[Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage]] |genus = Elephas |species = maximus |species_link = Asian elephant |subspecies = maximus |authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Nature|1758]] |range_map = Elephant Distribution Map Sri Lanka 2015.jpg |range_map_caption = Range of the Sri Lankan elephant }} The '''Sri Lankan elephant''' (''Elephas maximus maximus'') is one of the three [[subspecies]] of the [[Asian elephant]] (''Elephas maximus''). The other two subspecies are the [[Indian elephant]] (''Elephas maximus indicus'') and the [[Sumatran elephant]] (''Elephas maximus sumatranus''). The Sri Lankan elephant is the largest of the three subspecies.<ref name=aefs /> They are about {{convert|11|ft}} tall, and can weigh up to {{convert|12000| lb}}. They eat [[leaf|leaves]], [[shrub]]s, [[grass]]es, and other [[plant]]s. This subspecies is the [[List of national animals|National animal]] of [[Sri Lanka]] and is native to the island country. It once lived over the entire island. They now live in the dry zones in the north, east, and southeast. These zones are mainly dry [[deciduous]] [[woodland]], [[scrubland]], [[grassland]], and [[marsh]]es. There is a small group in the [[rainforest]].<ref name=aefs /> Sri Lankan elephants are sometimes working animals. They carry [[timber]], transport passengers, and participate in public events like the Procession of Buddha's Tooth. There were many of them in the past. They were aggressively [[hunting|hunted]]. In modern times, these elephants can be seen in Sri Lanka's [[national park]]s and elephant [[orphanage]]s. They have been declared an [[endangered species]], and are protected by law. Killing one carries the [[death penalty]]. ==Description== Asian elephants are usually smaller than [[African elephant]]s.