May 2021
The Asian Elephant
Common Name: Asian Elephant
Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
Subspecies: The Asian elephant is considered to be a single species, Elephas maximus with four extant subspecies, E.m. hirsute (Malayan elephant), E.m. indicus (Indian elephant), E.m.maximus (Sri Lankan elephant), and E.m. sumatranus (Sumatran elephant). Malayan, Indian, Sri Lankan and Sumatran. The Indian has the widest range and accounts for the majority of the remaining elephants on the continent. The Sri Lankan is physically the largest of the subspecies, and also the darkest in colour. The Sumatran is the smallest. They are smaller than African elephants and have proportionally smaller ears, which they keep in constant motion. Some studies suggest that Borneo pygmy elephants could be a separate subspecies. If so, they would be the smallest. They are more rotund and have babyish faces, larger ears, and longer tails that almost reach the ground and appear to be less aggressive than other Asian elephants.
Adaptations
Asian elephants have adapted many structural adaptations to help it survive in its natural habitat. Since they primarily inhabit tropical habitats and do not have any sweat glands, they have to find other ways to cool themselves. The elephants flap their ears to create a cooling effect and stay comfortable in the heat. Another difference between those two related species is the “finger”: Asian elephants have one “finger” on their upper lips while their African relatives possess two “fingers”, the second one on their lower lips.
Status: IUCN Red List has them as Endangered (population decreasing)
Population: IUCN says official estimated population number of Asian elephant is currently 41.410-52.345 individuals. If listed by countries, on the first place is India with 26.390-30.770 individuals around the country. Then Myanmar (4000-5000) and Sri-Lanka (2500-4000). Other countries with comparably large population of Asian elephants are: Indonesia (2400-3400), Thailand (2500-3200), Malaysia (2100-3100), Laos (500-1000), Cambodia (250-600), Bhutan (250-500), China (200-250), Bangladesh (150-250), Vietnam (70-150) and Nepal (100-125). About 13.000 individuals of Asian elephant are domesticated, working mainly in entertainment area.
Population Trend: Has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the past 75 years, and there are an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.
Weight: they can weigh as much as 5 tonnes. Male: 4,000 kg (Adult), Female: 2,700 kg (Adult)
Height: Male: 2.8 m (Adult, At Shoulder), Female: 2.4 m (Adult, At Shoulder)
Life Span: Females live to 60 years in the wild and 80 years in captivity
Gestation: 18-22 months When habitat conditions are favourable, female elephants may give birth to a calf every 2.5-4 years. Each calf weighs between 50-150kg.
Under good conditions Asian elephants mate all year-round, without reference to a season of year. The baby feeds on breast milk of its mother as well as other lactating females if necessary. A few months later the young elephant adds grass to its daily diet meanwhile continuing to feed on breast milk for up to 1.5 year. Even after weaning, the mother keeps on caring for and protecting the young. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of around 14 years. However, it’s not so easy for males: they are allowed to mate only when they are able to dominate other males in the area.
Habitat: They inhabit dry to wet forest and grassland habitats in 13 range countries spanning South and Southeast Asia. While they have preferred forage plants, Asian elephants have adapted to surviving on resources that vary based on the area. The primary threat to elephants is the loss and fragmentation of forests. Mammals of this size require large areas to roam in search of sufficient food. However, commercial timber plantations, agriculture, logging and palm oil plantations continue to encroach on and replace natural forest. This is destroying elephant habitat and reducing contact between dwindling elephant populations.
Diet: Elephants need to eat an average of 150 kg per day to survive. They can spend more than two thirds of each day feeding on grasses. But they also devour large amounts of bark, roots, leaves and stems. Cultivated crops such as bananas, rice and sugarcane are also favoured foods - bringing them into conflict with humans. While they have preferred forage plants, Asian elephants have adapted to surviving on resources that vary based on the area. They need to drink at least once a day so they are always close to a source of fresh water.
Behaviour: These elephants are very communicative mammals. As a general rule, they live in herds, consisting of more than 20 females. Asian elephants are not at all territorial. These animals are diurnal and crepuscular. They eat and walk at dusk and dawn while being absolutely passive in the daytime heat.
Social System: Female elephants are more social than males. They form herds of related females that are led by the oldest female, the 'matriarch'. Males usually live alone but sometimes form small groups with other males. Not only is the mother responsible for care and protection of a baby-elephant, but so are other females in the herd called aunties.
Cause of Decline: Asia is the world’s most densely populated continent and a huge percentage of the elephants' former range has already been lost. And as the human population continues to grow, the species' remaining habitat is shrinking fast.
Large development projects (such as dams, roads, and mines), agricultural plantations and expanding human settlements have also fragmented elephant habitat. Wild elephant populations are now mostly small, isolated and unable to mingle as ancient migratory routes are cut off by human settlements. Elephants and people are now coming into contact more often – increasing the likelihood of human-wildlife conflicts. Experts believe that these confrontations are now the leading cause of elephant deaths in Asia.
The Asian Elephant has huge impact on the ecosystem of its habitat. They turn some areas of forests into meadows and disperse seeds. Moreover it is known when elephants excavated holes in dry riverbeds to get water it is shared with other species. As the elephants walk through forests, they open broad pathways, which stop the spread of forest fire.
To find the best feeding areas, elephants migrate with the seasons. Now that migration routes have been disrupted and herds are confronted by new settlements and agriculture, conflicts with humans are inevitable. The trouble is, this dwindling elephant population shares its reduced habitat with a growing population of people eager to convert more tropical and subtropical forest to farmland. Sadly few of these people understand elephants follow ancient seasonal migration routes and most of their day is spent searching for food to satisfy their hefty appetites.
WWF is partnering with the Sabah/Malaysia government and agricultural companies to enable unrestricted passage for the elephants. Beginning in 2020, a new project will establish a wildlife corridor through a Sabah government-supported palm oil plantation to connect the nearly 42-square-mile Silabukan Protection Forest Reserve and the roughly 475-square-mile Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
The plantation typically welcomes the pachyderms when the palms are mature. But saplings are a draw for hungry elephants that damage the crops, so for the first eight years after saplings are planted, the plantation establishes a perimeter fence to protect them, inhibiting the elephants’ ability to travel between reserves. Loss of habitat connectivity increases the risk of inbreeding and the potential for human-wildlife conflict as elephants seek out resources in limited, fragmented areas.
The proposed corridor—a wide pathway flanked by electric fencing—will protect fragile crops while allowing elephants and other wildlife to move freely through or around plantation land. WWF will also support planting native vegetation to restore riverside habitat to attract elephants and tree-dwelling species, such as orangutans and gibbons, to the area. The long-term aim is to foster peaceful coexistence between wildlife and the plantation industry through solutions that benefit both.
DID YOU KNOW?
Elephants can sing! They use extremely low, ultrasound frequencies not perceptible for human ears. They sing when they want to keep the herd together and looking for mates.
Duration of their sleep is only 2 hours a day.
SOME ORGANISATIONS WORKING FOR THE CONSERVATION FOR THE ASIAN ELEPHANT IN THE WILD
Wildlife S.O.S. - As a leading conservation organization in South Asia, Wildlife S.O.S is dedicated to helping injured and abused elephants. They provide medical care to wounded and dehydrated elephants still working and begging on the streets as a result of their exploitation. Additionally, they work closely together with some of the government institutions in different parts of India to ensure a way to promote a better treatment of elephants living in captivity.
In 2018, Wildlife SOS inaugurated the first Elephant Hospital in India, where elephants are already receiving treatment.
Wildlife Conservation Society - A world where people and ecologically functioning populations of wild Asian Elephants can co-exist and thrive across the elephants' range.
Their strategies to get there include:
· Protect elephants and their habitat.
· Reduce human-elephant conflict.
· Build capacity in range States.
· Conduct research on elephants to help inform conservation strategies.
· Promote elephant-friendly policies.
WWF Through the Asian Rhinos and Elephants Action Strategy (AREAS), WWF is helping to conserve the remaining elephant populations and their habitats and to improve connections between fragmented areas where Asian elephants live. They’re working with governments and local communities to reduce conflict between people and elephants, influencing policy and legislation to benefit elephant conservation.
WWF is also tackling poaching by working with the authorities to improve the enforcement of laws on the illegal trade in elephants and their parts and collaborating with TRAFFIC to reduce demand for ivory in consumer markets - all part of the global Wildlife Crime Initiative.