Asian Elephant Stories

Two years after China bans elephant ivory trade, demand for elephant ivory is down
Two years ago this month, China took the monumental step of banning elephant ivory trade within the country. Dec. 31, 2017 was the last day it was legal to buy or sell ivory there.
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Wildlife corridors help elephants move between habitats in Malaysia
WWF Magazine: Summer 2020In Malaysian state of Sabah, WWF is helping to establish a wildlife corridor through a palm oil plantation to connect two reserves, which will protect crops and allow wildlife to roam freely. -
Progress in closing elephant ivory markets
August 12, 2019Singapore takes an important step in protecting species from illegal wildlife trade.
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The status of Asian elephants
WWF Magazine: Winter 2018More than 100,000 Asian elephants may have existed at the beginning of the 20th century, roaming from the Persian Gulf to India and China. But their numbers have dropped in the past three generations. -
Living with Elephants in Thailand
WWF Magazine: Winter 2018Turning wild elephants into an asset for locals is at the heart of protection efforts for Kui Buri National Park. -
WWF’s Ming Yao on why China’s elephant ivory trade ban matters
September 28, 2018WWF spoke with Ming Yao, a member of WWF’s wildlife conservation team who has worked closely with elephant ivory demand reduction projects, to learn more about her point of view on China’s ivory ban and how it has influenced consumer behavior in her country.
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Seven unsung ecosystems we need to survive
They may not be household names, but these ecosystems are vital to the health of our planet. They support an incredible range of plants and animals, as well as millions of people and their communities, and play a critical role in fighting climate change.
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What’s the difference between Asian and African elephants? And 8 other elephant facts
Elephants, found in both Africa and Asia, are vital to maintaining the rich biodiversity of the ecosystems that they share with other species. Here's a snapshot of what you should know about them.
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WWF supporters rally to stop elephant poaching in Myanmar
WWF Magazine: Spring 2018More than 3,000 WWF supporters donated a total of $263,211 to fund 10 antipoaching teams targeting Myanmar’s most vulnerable areas. -
Celebrating the biggest conservation wins of 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to highlight some of our biggest conservation successes of the year. And we couldn’t have done it without your support.
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Most Chinese consumers support an upcoming ban on elephant ivory in China—if they know about it
By the end of December, it will be illegal to sell or buy elephant ivory in China. But will the new and critical ban succeed in a country that’s home to the largest legal ivory market in the world?
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The right to roam: elephant encounters at a wildlife corridor
August 24, 2017Wildlife roam large areas and do not recognize human-imposed boundaries. They need help doing things like crossing busy roads. This incredible elephant encounter emphasized how important movement corridors are for wildlife.
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Supporters help WWF launch emergency plan to stop Myanmar’s elephant poaching crisis
August 10, 2017Amid a dire poaching crisis, wild Asian elephants in Myanmar received swift and essential aid from thousands of WWF supporters committed to protecting this iconic species. More than 3,000 people donated $263,211 in less than four weeks to fund an emergency action plan to train rangers and get boots on the ground to fight wildlife crime.
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In a disturbing new trend, poachers are killing Myanmar’s elephants for their skin, teeth, and tails
June 06, 2017In a disturbing and growing new trend, Asian elephants of all ages are being slaughtered in Myanmar for their skin and other body parts. WWF is launching an emergency action plan to train, equip, and deploy 10 anti-poaching teams to the most vulnerable areas, and implementing a thorough plan to stop the slaughter.
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What is ivory and why does it belong on elephants?
We’ve all seen photographs of majestic elephants sporting long, off-white tusks on either side of their trunks. This ivory is both beautiful on the animals and essential to the species’ survival. But what exactly is it?
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Why we care about elephants on World Wildlife Day—and every day
March 03, 2016Elephants number among the smartest and most empathetic creatures on the planet. This World Wildlife Day, we’re celebrating these magnificent animals—and emphasizing their need for our help.
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Saving Thirty Hills
August 12, 2015The Indonesian island of Sumatra—one of the most biodiverse places on the planet—has lost more than half of its forest cover in the last thirty years. But there are stands of amazing, still-intact forest in Sumatra, and Thirty Hills is one of them.
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How Nepal Got to Zero Poaching
February 03, 2015In February 2015, Nepal will host the first symposium focused on getting to zero poaching. Delegates from more than 13 Asian countries representing conservation agencies, police and prosecution services will share best practices, tools and technologies that can be used to respond to the poaching crisis.
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Learning to Live in Harmony with Asian Elephants
August 12, 2014WWF works in a number of countries in Asia to prevent and mitigate human-elephant conflict. In addition to monitoring elephant movement to understand where they travel, what they encounter and their habits as they pertain to crop raiding, we help communities employ a variety of methods to keep elephants out of human settlements and safe in the wild.
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World Wildlife Day Marked by Good News for Rhinos and Tigers
March 03, 2014On World Wildlife Day, the government of Nepal, WWF and other partners celebrate a milestone 365 days without a single case of rhino or tiger poaching in the Eastern Himalayan country.
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U.S. Ambassador Lives a Day in the Life of an Elephant Ranger
Far from an embassy or diplomatic meeting room, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney spent a day on patrol with wildlife rangers. Inside Kui Buri National Park in southwest Thailand, Ambassador Kenney learned firsthand the challenges rangers face as they work to protect nature.
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Protection for Asian Elephants and Help for Rangers
March 13, 2013On a recent trip to Thailand, WWF's Leigh Henry saw elephants for the first time and reminds us why our successful conservation work benefits both species and people.
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Reconnecting Shared Landscapes is Crucial for Wildlife and People to Thrive
When governments set up conservation areas that protect and connect nature, wildlife begins to thrive and so do people.
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The Heart of Borneo Beats Strong
February 15, 2012 -
Elephants Under Increased Threat From Illegal Ivory Trade
December 29, 2011