Population status of Asian elephantsElephas maximusand key threats

Abstract

The Asian elephant Elephas maximus is distributed in 13 countries across South Asia and South East Asia spread over an area of 486 800 km2 with a population of c. 48 323–51 680 in the wild and c. 15 000 in captivity. The major threats to the survival of the species are habitat shrinkage and fragmentation, human–elephant conflict, poaching and illegal trade of elephant body parts. The elephant populations of Vietnam, Sumatra and Myanmar are under great threat with only 100–130 elephants left in the wild in Vietnam. Apart from ivory, the trade of other body parts of elephants, especially the skin trade, has increased in last few years further threatening the elephant population. This trade could result in indiscriminate killing of elephants of both sexes threatening the fragile elephant population in the region. Human–elephant conflict has become a significant threat for the conservation of Asian elephants across their range of distribution and needs to be managed urgently to prevent retaliation. The welfare and care of elephants in captivity is a major concern as are the training methods used with these elephants. There is also a need to create and conform to a uniform registration system for elephants in human care to prevent illegal trade of individuals.

Milk Composition of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in a Natural Environment in Myanmar during Late Lactation

“…One-quarter (24-29%) of all remaining Asian elephants now live in captivity in range countries in Asia and a further 1000 in zoos around the world [2,3]. With the wild populations rapidly declining worldwide [4], conservation efforts should focus on improving the survival rates of both wild and captive populations. For example, the Union of Myanmar possesses the largest semi-captive Asian elephant population globally and has an extensive history of maintaining this endangered species [5,6], with the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) managing 3000+ semi-captive Asian elephants, located throughout the country in various timber extraction regions [7].…”

Editorial: Conservation of Elephants

“…In Volume 53, Vivek Menon and Sandeep Tiwari open the Conservation of Elephants section with an up-to-date overview of the status and distribution of Asian elephants. These authors describe the key threats and conservation challenges facing the species in Asia, discuss the management of elephants in captivity in the region, and conclude that the future of elephants in range countries is dependent upon governments and people working together to consolidate scientific knowledge with effective governance and ecologically aware communities (Menon & Tiwari, 2019). Schmidt & Kappelhof (2019) then describe the population dynamics of the Asian elephant European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Ex situ Programme (EEP), and review some of the challenges that will be faced in the near future.…”

“…The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report highlights that nature is declining at unprecedented rates and human activity is threatening 1 million species with extinction globally (IPBES, 2019). Moreover, the Living Planet Index has charted a 60% decline in wildlife populations since 1970 (WWF, 2018 Menon & Tiwari (2019) for data sources]. African elephants are distributed across 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated population of 415 000 individuals (IUCN, 2019;WWF, 2019).…”

“…African Savannah elephants Loxodonta africana are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and Asian elephants Elephas maximus as Endangered (IUCN, ). Asian elephants occur in 13 countries across South Asia and South East Asia, with a population of c. 48 323–51 680 in the wild [see Menon & Tiwari () for data sources]. African elephants are distributed across 37 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa, with an estimated population of 415 000 individuals (IUCN, ; WWF, ).…”

Mortality Patterns of Asian Elephants in a Region of Human–Elephant Conflict

“…Human-elephant conflict (HEC), most often through crop-raiding, is a major impediment to the wellbeing of humans and elephants in elephant range countries. Asian elephants are threatened primarily by habitat loss and fragmentation, exacerbating HEC in areas with growing human populations (Choudhury et al 2008, Barua et al 2013, Wilson et al 2015, Anuradha et al 2019, Menon and Tiwari 2019. At the same time that HEC threatens the safety and livelihood of local human communities, elephants are also critically important to the normal functioning of the ecosystems where they live (Blake and Hedges 2004, Campos-Arceiz and Blake 2011, Tscharntke et al 2012.…”