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Asian Elephants

Asian Elephant

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.

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Danger Watch

A species relative risk of extinction, as determined by the IUCN - The World Conservation Union. More

  1. Link Title

    Extinct

    No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

  2. Link Title

    Extinct in the Wild

    Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population.

  3. Link Title

    Critically Endangered

    Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

  4. Link Title

    Endangered

    Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

  5. Link Title

    Vulnerable

    Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

  6. Link Title

    Near Threatened

    Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

  7. Link Title

    Least Concern

    Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endagnered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened

More on the Asian Elephant

Related Information

Related Global Markets

Wildlife Trade  |  Agriculture

Related Places

Borneo and Sumatra  |  Eastern Himalayas  |  Mekong

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WWF Experts

Sybille Klenzendorf

Managing Director
Species Conservation Program

"Young people are the future of conservation. We must inspire them and we must lead them by our example."

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Barney Long

Senior Program Officer
Asian Species Conservation

"The most satisfying thing is seeing our field projects have greater impact as a result of my support. Whether it’s by helping them secure funding or by giving technical input to develop a new approach to a conservation problem - that's what I am here for."

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