Asian Elephants
Asian Elephant
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Sumatran Elephants Listed as Critically Endangered
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species changed the Sumatran elephant's status. Read more
Common Name: Asian elephant
Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
Location: Asia
Population: 41,410–52,345
Subspecies:
Indian elephant
(Elephas maximus indicus)
Sumatran elephant
(Elephas maximus sumatrensis)
Sri Lankan elephant
(Elephas maximus maximus)
Borneo Pygmy Elephant
(Elephas maximus borneensis)
Although revered by many Asian cultures, the Asian elephant is being pushed to extinction. The remaining populations are mostly small, isolated, and fragmented because their ancient migratory routes and habitat have been disrupted by expanding human encroachment. Confrontations between elephants and people often lead to deaths on both sides; and poaching for ivory, meat and hides is still a widespread problem.
Asian elephants are 'flagship' species for their habitats - that is, charismatic representatives of the biodiversity within the complex ecosystems they inhabit. Since these large animals need a lot of space to survive, their conservation will help maintain biological diversity and ecological integrity over extensive areas and as a result help many other species.
WWF works to:
WWF has been supporting Asian elephant conservation for over 40 years, beginning with survey work in Sri Lanka and India in the 1960s. In 1998, WWF created the Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS) to conserve the remaining populations of these endangered large mammals and their habitats. The strategy recognizes that conservation success will only be possible through a wide-ranging approach that goes beyond protecting isolated areas and addresses issues of land-use practices.
The cornerstone of AREAS work is the creation of habitat landscapes. This means working outside and between protected areas to minimize threats to elephants, and to empower communities to participate in long-term conservation and management of these animals.
The program combines cutting-edge conservation biology with trade monitoring, community development, socio-economic analysis, public awareness campaigns, dialogue with traditional medicine practitioners, capacity building, and policy advocacy.
In many Asian countries, WWF is working with TRAFFIC - the international wildlife trade monitoring network organized and operated as a joint program between WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation Union - to reduce the threat that illegal and illicit domestic ivory markets pose to wild elephants. TRAFFIC also manages a global record of ivory seizures, called ETIS (Elephant Trade Information System), that helps to identify trade routes and countries of particular importance in the illegal trade.
