Asian Elephants: 15 years of research and conservation

Hankinson, Emma; Nijman, Vincent; Abdullah, Abdullah

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1460/1/012055

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…They are the heaviest existing land mammal and have attracted humans around the globe for millions of years (Riddle et al 2010). They are extensively scattered in different parts of the world and possess a broad range of activities (Campos-Arceiz and Blake 2011), and have become an umbrella species due to their popularity by guaranteeing their conservation, while people indirectly safeguard other species living in the enormous ecosystems they inhabit (Hankinson and Nijman 2020). They may be found in 50 nations worldwide, including 13 countries in Asia (Elephas maximus) and 37 countries in Africa (Loxodonta africana) (Perera 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-fencing as Promising Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC): Responses of Elephants and Underlying Leaf Chemistry of Polyalthia longifolia

Perera

Abhayapala

Dharmarathne³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Bio-fencing could be used as an effective tool for human-elephant conflict mitigation, yet the plant species currently used need to be more viable. Polyalthia longifolia is reported to be having antifeedant properties against herbivores and is repellent to them. Accordingly, two cases were studied to evaluate the antifeedant and repellency nature of the plant by offering P. longifolia; (1) to wild elephants in 03 locations in Mahaweli System D, Sri Lanka and (2) to tamed elephants of 03 age groups. The preference of tamed elephants were further evaluated giving leafy materials; coconut, fishtail palm, grass mixture, and P. longifolia simultaneously. As a necessary consequence, this study was intended to (3) assess the relative levels of moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein and (4) organic volatile compounds responsible for the odor of offered plant materials using a PEN3 electronic nose, and to (5) determine the relationship between leaf proximate parameters with palatability responses and (6) organic volatile compounds. Results showed that the wild elephants prevent their movement through their routes by placing bunches of P. longifolia leaf branches. Tamed elephants showed abnormal responses against P. longifolia particularly movements of their body compared to the rest of feeding materials implying that the leaves of P. longifolia are antifeedant and repellant to them, suggesting the greater potential as an effective bio-fence against elephants. However, estimated differences in leaf proximate parameters and relative levels of organic volatile compounds did not reveal the witnessed contrasting repellency of P. longifolia.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-fencing as Promising Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC): Responses of Elephants and Underlying Leaf Chemistry of Polyalthia longifolia

Perera

Abhayapala

Dharmarathne³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Despite the elephant conservation legislation imposed, various anthropogenic activities have continued to threaten the survival of elephants. Legal and illegal capture and illicit trade of elephants to supplement captive populations occur in several nations, which contributes to the decline of elephant numbers in the wild [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Hunting elephants for ivory, meat, hair, tail, bones and skin further poses a major threat [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current and Future Approaches to Mitigate Conflict between Humans and Asian Elephants: The Potential Use of Aversive Geofencing Devices

Mel

Seneweera²,

Mel³

et al. 2022

Animals

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Asian elephants are a principal cause of human-wildlife conflict. This results in the death/injury of elephants and humans and large-scale crop and property damage. Most current human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation tools lack the flexibility to accommodate the ecological needs of elephants and are ineffective at reducing HEC in the long-term. Here we review common HEC mitigation tools used in Asia and the potential of Aversive Geofencing Devices (AGDs) to manage problem elephants. AGDs can be configured to monitor animal movements in real-time and deliver auditory warnings followed by electric stimuli whenever animals attempt to move across user-specified virtual boundaries. Thus, AGDs are expected to condition elephants to avoid receiving shocks and keep them away from virtually fenced areas, while providing alternative routes that can be modified if required. Studies conducted using AGDs with other species provide an overview of their potential in conditioning wild animals. We recommend that the efficacy and welfare impact of AGDs be evaluated using captive elephants along with public perception of using AGDs on elephants as a means of addressing the inherent deficiencies of common HEC mitigation tools. If elephants could be successfully conditioned to avoid virtual fences, then AGDs could resolve many HEC incidents throughout Asia.

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“…The illicit trade of wild-caught Asian elephants is prominent in several nations in Asia, particularly in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, India, and Sri Lanka (Baskaran et al 2011;Nijman 2013Nijman , 2014Prakash 2014;Hankinson et al 2020). Nijman (2014) reported that 79-81 wild elephants were illegally captured from the wild, mostly in Myanmar, and traded in Thailand over a two-year time period (April 2011-March 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illegal capture and internal trade of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Sri Lanka

Prakash¹,

Indrajith²,

Aththanayaka³

et al. 2020

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The illegal wildlife trade is considered one of the major threats to global biodiversity. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) have been highly valued by various cultures for use in religious and spiritual contexts, as a draft animal, and more recently, as a tourist attraction. Thus, the demand for captive elephants is high. Wild Asian elephants are taken from the wild, often illegally, to maintain these captive populations due to the unviability of captive breeding programs. For the first time, we documented the extent to which wild elephants are being illegally captured and traded in Sri Lanka between January 2008 and December 2018. We collected data from case records maintained by the Sri Lanka court system where the suspects of illegal elephant trade were prosecuted in addition to information gathered by archives and interviews with various stakeholders. We documented 55 cases where elephants were illegally traded. This is probably an underestimate due to the mortality rate of elephants during capture operations, and challenges in collecting data on this highly organized illicit trade. Nearly equal numbers of male and female elephants were traded and more than 50% of them were juveniles, aged ≤5 years. Significantly more elephants were found to be seized in 2014–2015 than in the other time periods combined. We found evidence of the illegal capture of wild elephants from wildlife protected areas and state forests. More importantly, we identified evidence of corruption of wildlife officers, involvement of politicians and other high-ranking personnel in the illegal wildlife trade, and lack of active enforcement of wildlife law as major challenges to overcome if the illegal capture and domestic trade of wild elephants in Sri Lanka are to be halted. Based on our study, we make a series of recommendations that should result in implementing policy to reduce the trafficking of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka and improve the conservation management of the species.

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Asian Elephants: 15 years of research and conservation

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

Bio-fencing as Promising Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC): Responses of Elephants and Underlying Leaf Chemistry of Polyalthia longifolia

Bio-fencing as Promising Solution for Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC): Responses of Elephants and Underlying Leaf Chemistry of Polyalthia longifolia

Current and Future Approaches to Mitigate Conflict between Humans and Asian Elephants: The Potential Use of Aversive Geofencing Devices

Illegal capture and internal trade of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Sri Lanka

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