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The Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus) - Biology, History & Conservation
The Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus) - Biology, History & Conservation
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The Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus) - Biology, History & Conservation
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This thread is dedicated to the Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus). Information regarding its ecology, conservation, biology and contemporary and historical relations with humans shall be discussed here. Data regarding the extinct members of the Elephas genus is also welcome.
The Goal of this Thread:
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The Mammalian Species Account of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) and literature on the Asian Elephant
Mammalian Species. No. 182. Elephas maximus - Jeheskel Shoshani & John F. Eisenberg Link Literature on the ecology of the Asiatic Elephant
 *This image is copyright of its original author A Tusker bull elephant named 'Sando' in the Yala National Park, Sri Lanka Source  *This image is copyright of its original author
Current Status of Asian Elephants in China
Introduction Asian elephants are only found in a very small area of southern China with a total number of individuals less than 200. They occur in bamboo-broadleaf mixed forests along gullies and rivers, at altitudes under 1000 m. Current elephant habitat is highly fragmented and consists of isolated patches situated among extensive stretches of tea and rubber plantations, and croplands. Habitat loss and poaching were once major threats to elephants in China, but since the 1980s, effective conservation measures have been adopted by the Chinese government to protect elephants by establishing nature reserves and banning illegal hunting (Zhang et al. 2006). Asian elephants are listed as a class I protected wildlife species under the Wildlife Protection Law (Zhang 2007). In the current distribution area in Yunnan, local indigenous groups including Aini, Dai, Jingpo and Wa believe that elephants can bring luck. Elephant figurines made of wood or stone and depiction of elephants on paintings can be found in many local temples. Elephants are also used as a symbol of good fortune in local religious events. Elephants are an important tourist attraction in the Wild Elephant Valley in Xishuangbanna. However, with the rapid increase in human activities in elephant range areas in the past decade, human–elephant conflict has become a problem, challenging the survival of this endangered species in China (Zhang & Wang 2003). Elephants in China. Photos by Aidong Luo  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Current Status of Asian Elephants in China
Dr Farina Othman gives a talk regarding the conservation of wild elephants of the Malaysian Borneo
Images of wild elephants across their range. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and India
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
The Asian Elephant's Conservation Conundrums - Dr Raman Sukumar
An incredible discussion by three renowned Bangladeshi zoologists regarding thee status of the elephant in Bangladesh. (The Speakers: Dr Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed, Dr Monirul Khan & Dr Tapan Kumar Dey)
A case study on conflict intensity between humans and elephants at Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Humans’ and elephants’ conflict is considered a common phenomenon in Bangladesh due to extreme anthropogenic interferences on elephant habitats. Concurrently, the landless people were encouraged to encroach on forest land due to their financial hardship and poor and weak forest management systems. We conducted our research work through frequent field visits, site-oriented positioned research correspondents, and an adopted semistructured questionnaire. We recorded a total of 903 conflict-related cases between humans and elephants, including crop raids (N = 337), house raids (N = 200), homestead garden raids (N = 263), and accidental attacks (N = 103), across sites, during August 2018 to July 2019, in Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS). Elephant attack rates varied significantly between traditional forest dwellers (N = 179), illegal settlers (N = 370), villagers nearest forest (N = 212), Rohingya refugees (N = 53), and traditional forest different tribes (N = 89). It also varied along a space gradient, including inside forests (N = 423), buffer zones (N = 297), and outside forest villages (N = 183). The number of conflicts possessed by elephants varied discriminately and was unparalleled among different professions such as cattle ranchers (N = 104), gardeners (N = 112), paddy cultivators (N = 236), vegetable growers (N = 158), betel-leaf growers (N = 163), and forest resources collectors (N = 130). Most conflicts between humans and elephants occurred significantly during the night (N = 592), many during the morning (N = 154), evening (N = 138), and much less during midday (N = 19). The conflict intensity was also higher on the east coast (N = 552) than on the west coast (N = 351). The seasonal variation, including summer (N = 367), monsoon (N = 274), and winter (N = 262), was also significant. The elephant herd size was also an important factor triggering the conflict in TWS. We conclude that conflict intensity between humans and elephants is driven by settlers’ location, forest gradient, the profession of forest-dependent people, their household size and income level, attack time, and season. A case study on conflict intensity between humans and elephants at Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh Villagers’ experiences, perceptions of human-elephant conflict and attitudes towards elephant conservation in south-eastern Bangladesh Abstract We describe villagers’ experiences and perceptions of human-elephant conflict (HEC), and attitudes towards elephant conservation near elephant habitat in southeastern Bangladesh. The study was based on a questionnaire survey administered through in person interviews. We sampled 171 respondents across 109 villages. The results showed that crop raiding and damage to houses, fruit gardens, and seedlings were perceived as the causes of conflict. Seventy percent believed habitat improvement as useful for HEC mitigation and 73% favoured elephant conservation, at least in principle. Villagers’ experiences, perceptions of human-elephant conflict and attitudes towards elephant conservation in south-eastern Bangladesh Photo of two wild elephants by Dr Monirul Khan. LINK Southeastern Bangladesh has the only resident breeding population of elephants in the country. Migrants of upto 100 do exist in the North.  *This image is copyright of its original author
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