header: Asian (Indian) Elephant
WWF Logo
line Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758


CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (numbered projects are WWF-projects)

Due to its large size and extensive spatial requirement, the Asian Elephant can be considered a "flagship" species, whose conservation could potentially promote maintenance of biological diversity and ecological integrity on a large scale.3

Asian Elephant Action Plan:3 In 1989, the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) Species Survival Commission Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AESG) produced an Action Plan for the conservation of the species.3 The objective of the Plan is to conserve as many elephants as possible, throughout their range, whilst minimizing conflict with people. This objective has to be achieved in the context of the continued increase of the human population in Asia, rising living standards, and the need for land for agriculture and settlement. The Plan recognizes the roles of non-governmental and governmental organizations in the establishment of National Elephant Conservation and Management Strategies. The Action Plan also identifies the need for a network of protected areas for elephant conservation, and in some cases national and international corridors to facilitate elephant migration. Effective land use, planning and management has a major role to play in the conservation of the species, particularly in minimizing conflicts. The AESG is updating this plan in 1996. Under project 9S0012 WWF supports publication of the journal Gajah produced by the AESG. The journal's aim is to highlight the plight of the Asian elephant and to promote conservation of the Asian elephant by serving as an information tool and providing a forum for members of the group.

India: Elephants occur in several of India's famous national parks where WWF is supporting Project Elephant through its general state affiliates. Project Elephant14 was initiated in 1991 as the Indian National Elephant Conservation and Management Strategy. A task force has created a long term conservation programme for the elephant in India under a specially funded initiative based on the ecological approach of Project Tiger. The objectives are to ensure the long term survival of identified larger populations, and to evolve management plans for the smaller populations, involving reduction of elephant-human confrontations. Within elephant reserves, among other aims the project intends to link fragmented habitat portions by establishing corridors (now initiated in Uttar Pradesh), and to protect corridors currently under threat; and also to attend to the socio-economic problems that may be associated with elephant conservation action. WWF India has assisted in environmental awareness programmes aimed at reducing conflict between wildlife and people. TRAFFIC India is monitoring the trade in ivory and other products and is also helping in the effort to rehabilitate ivory carvers by displaying and selling in its shops products made from ivory substitutes.

Sri Lanka:12 The population of elephants in Sri Lanka has declined by 85% since the turn of the 19th century. The Department of Wildlife Conservation requested the preparation of an Action Plan to conserve and manage the Elephant in Sri Lanka. The strategy of the plan is to ensure the long-term survival of as many viable populations of elephant in Sri Lanka as possible, in as wide a range of habitat as practical. The Action Plan is divided into six components, each of which identifies and deals with a separate aspect of the proposed strategy: mitigation of elephant-human conflicts; protection of key wild elephant populations; promotion of scientific research into elephant management; influencing political action to ensure governmental support; building conservation education and awareness of the elephants role in Sri Lankan culture, religion and economy.

Vietnam: In 1995 WWF supported the development of an Asian Elephant action plan for Vietnam under project VN0005. This plan, adopted by the government in 1996, is partially funded by Fauna and Flora International.

Thailand: The Royal Forestry Department of the Government reports like all other range states an increase in the number of elephants killed for the illegal ivory trade. WWF is supporting large mammals surveys and a "Floating Guard Station" along the Huai Kha Khaeng River in the Haui Kha Khaeng/Thung Yai Wildlife Sanctuaries under project TH00028.

Sumatra:13 A Population and Habitat Viability Analysis (PHVA) was undertaken during 1993, to estimate the status of the Asian Elephant in Sumatra after recent changes in human population and forest cover. The analysis indicated that elephant-human conflicts in Sumatra had risen. Results suggested that elephant populations smaller than about 25 animals are at a very high risk of extinction; any harvesting of elephants could only be sustainable in populations of 100 elephants (or populations of 40-50 in the vicinity of a larger population) whose habitat was secure. The full results of the PHVA will guide the use of any further action to conserve the Elephant in Sumatra, diverting conservation activity to the areas of immediate need.

Other Projects: Many other projects are currently underway throughout much of the Asian Elephant range, eg., surveys of elephant distribution in Xishuangbanna Dai, China; management and conservation of elephants in the Mahaweli project area, Sri Lanka; and population estimates within Tabin National Reserve, Sabah.


<---- Contents
line