ASIATIC ELEPHANT
About Asiatic Elephants
The Asian Elephant(Scientific name: Elephas maximus indicus), with a height of 6.5-11.5 feet, weight of around 11000 pounds, and length of around 21 feet, is the largest land mammal on the Asian continent. Asian Elephants are extremely sociable. The females live with their young in herds, whereas males go off on their own. To communicate with each other, they use growls and moans, which can be heard more than a mile away. Their average lifespan in the wild is up to 60 years. They are herbivore mammals.
The Subspecies of Asian Elephants-
Why are they poached?
The wide motive for poaching Asiatic Elephants is their ivory which is used as a status symbol by humans in the form of ornaments, small carvings, and jewelry. The demand for Elephant skin, tail hair, and meat is also a threat to them.
How are Asian Elephants different?
We got to know that elephants are the largest land animals, they are different from other species of animals found but it’s exciting to know that there are even more categorizations when it comes to just elephants. Elephants can be bifurcated mainly into Asian and African origins. The Asian elephants have quite many variations making them different from the latter. There are more than 10 physical characteristics that differentiate Asian and African elephants. The most interesting one is that the ears of the Asian elephants are semi-circular rounded and far smaller than those of African elephants. There is a dilemma of who’s larger! It’s found that African elephants are somehow larger than their Asian counterparts. Now don’t ask me for the measurements, please! Heaviness in the air, the African elephants are more prone to causing a deadly earthquake with their weight of some 4000 to 8000 kgs rather than Asian elephants weighing some 2000 to 3000 kgs less. Most importantly their lifespan- Asian elephants live for 48 years on average pretty less when compared to the 70 years average lifespan for African elephants. What could be the reason? Probably because of our urge to develop faster we have put a force on nature’s descendants the actual residents and even though Asia is getting richer financially, the elephants have gotten poorer and rarer
IMPORTANCE OF ASIATIC ELEPHANTS IN THE ECOSYSTEM
The Asian elephant is the largest land mammal on the Asian continent. 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. Asian elephants are extremely sociable, forming groups of six to seven related females that are led by the oldest female, the matriarch. In Asia, humans have had close associations with elephants over many centuries, and elephants have become important cultural icons. Elephants are considered ecosystem engineers, for a reason. They make pathways in densely forested habitats that allow passage for other animals. An elephant footprint can also enable a micro-ecosystem that, when filled with water, can provide a home for tadpoles and other organisms. They help with seed dispersal and create a habitat for smaller animals by tearing down trees.
WHERE CAN WE PRESENTLY FIND THEM? WHAT IS THEIR NUMBER NOW?
Asiatic elephants usually live in a range of habitats, including grasslands, scrublands, evergreen, and deciduous forests. They mostly prefer low-lying areas where they can move around easily and generally avoid steep slopes. More than half of the global population of wild Asiatic elephants is found in India, with around 10,000 in the northeast of the country. Some move across the border between India and Nepal. There may be fewer than 100 wild elephants in Vietnam, and perhaps around 250 in Cambodia. In China, there are less than 250 wild Asian elephants.
Why are Asiatic Elephant numbers getting reduced?
The Asian elephant is the largest living land animal in Asia. Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the population has declined by at least 50 percent over the last three elephant generations, which is about 60–75 years. It is primarily threatened by loss of habitat, habitat degradation, fragmentation, and poaching. In 2019, the wild population was estimated at 48,323–51,680 individuals. Female captive elephants have lived beyond 60 years when kept in semi-natural surroundings, such as forest camps. In zoos, Asian elephants die at a much younger age; captive populations are declining due to low birth and high death rate
Measures were taken by the government
The wildlife protection act, of 1972, was amended in 2002 and banned the sale of captive elephants to prevent illegal ownership and captivation.
Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests to provide financial and technical support to wildlife management efforts by states for their free-ranging populations of wild Asian Elephants. The project aims to ensure the long-term survival of the population of elephants in their natural habitats by protecting them, their habitats, and migration corridors. Other goals of Project Elephant are supporting the research of the ecology and management of elephants and creating awareness of conservation among local people.
Highlights of the Project Elephant
.To protect elephants, their habitat, and corridors.
.To address issues of man-animal conflict.
.Welfare of captive elephants
to promote not harming elephants for their tusks.
.Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants are built better than before;
.Development of scientific and planned management for conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic elephants in India;
.Promotion of measures for mitigation of man-elephant conflict in crucial habitats and moderating pressures of human and domestic stock activities in crucial elephant habitats;
.Strengthening of measures for the protection of Wild elephants from poachers and unnatural causes of death;
.Research on Elephant management related issues;
.Public education and awareness programs;
.Eco-development
.Veterinary care
.Elephant Rehabilitation/Rescue Centers
Answers from the appendices of CITES
(i) Appendix I
(ii)Appendix II lists the species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction, Appendix III includes the list of species included at the request of a party that already regulated trade in the species whereas Asian elephants being the endangered species are listed in Appendix I.
(iii) So, Asian Elephants being the endangered species are included in Appendix I because of the threat they face regarding the loss of their habitat, illegal killing(e.g. For their ivory and other products ), and the loss of genetic viability resulting from small population size and isolation.
“The threat of extinction is more real than many realize. And the damage done to elephants directly leads to the destruction of the ecosystem.”
- Li Bingbing.
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