Asian Elephants
Conflict, Culture, and Coexistence
Asian elephants today are animals defined through the lens of culture, coexistence, and conflict.
There are an estimated 45000 Asian elephants left on earth. Close to 60% of Asian elephants live outside of National Parks, close to human populations with more of their habitat being lost every year. The hope is that a greater understanding of these elephants may mitigate much of the human elephant conflict that plays out today.
Historically elephants were prevalent all over Asia but they've lost 95% of their range states. Today, the majority of Asian Elephants are found in India and Sri Lanka.
Data: Olivier, R. (1978)
India and Sri Lanka are home to the majority of Asian elephants, they are also two countries who have experienced enormous, often poorly-planned development with little regard for animals or the environment.
Data: IUCN
Ultimately, the future for Asian elephants is likely to come down to how much we can understand them and frankly, how much we care.
A male elephant sneaks over an electric fence to crop raid in nearby rice paddies. These paddies were placed right next to a national park without sufficient planning for the elephants.
Human-elephant conflict
The majority of Asian elephants live outside of National Parks. India and Sri Lanka have both experienced incredible development in the last thirty years, huge agricultural expansion has been part of that.
A vegetable store owner stands outside the remains of his shop after elephants destroyed it in the night. This community was built recently in a former elephant habitat.
India and Sri Lanka are home to the majority of Asian elephants, they are also two countries who have experienced enormous, often poorly-planned development with little regard for animals or the environment.
The majority of Asian elephants live in India and Sri Lanka. But rapid urban growth in these countries, combined with the conversion of forest into productive croplands to feed a growing population, have placed significant pressures on local elephant populations.
This map highlights the overlap between agricultural lands, urban areas, and extant Asian elephant habitats in 2020.
Data: ESA
Sri Lanka has significant protected areas but they are unfenced and there are minimal wildlife protection resources. Over 80% of Sri Lankans work in agriculture, chiefly rice production. There is little to no buffer protection between protected areas and farming.
Unless immediate and significant steps are taken to curtail habitat loss throughout South Asia, this trend is expected to continue well into the future.
Data: WDPA
They are being squeezed into tighter and tighter areas, with access to food and water increasingly limited. All of this has dramatically impacted centuries-old elephant habitat. Very little of this development has included planning for elephants.
There are over 2000 human elephant conflicts reported every year, with over 600 elephants killed and many captured.
Sri Lanka's Pera Hera is the most important religious festival in the country. Only the countries most iconic elephants are chosen for the parade.
A cultural icon
Asian elephants have an ancient relationship with humans. From war animals to temple elephants, they are an important symbol in many countries.
In some places, elephants are superstars with thousands of followers. Ironically, many of the festivals that honor elephants also traumatize them, with huge crowds, concussive fireworks and little room to move.
Every major temple in India and many of the minor temples have elephants. Elephants on the festival circuit often display signs of trauma and every year, elephants that are pushed too far, will lash out.
Two elephants at the Mysore Dasara festival comfort each other with their trunks after being chained up after lashing out at the crowd the previous day.
Baby elephants learn by imitation much like human babies. Female elephants with calves display much lower cortizol levels and are far less stressed.
Elephant behavior
Many elephants are individual thinkers. Some are loners, others follow the herd. Babies learn by imitation, much like humans.
Elephants are capable of sophisticated problem solving, from fence breaking to herd preservation to rescuing elephants in trouble.
Trunk-touching is a tool for reassurance and bonding, male elephants in mhust are in an agitated state that can last for months as they seek out receptive females.
We know that females with calves are far less stressed. Elephants grieve for their dead, and will revisit the site of dead elephants. Mothers will separate from the herd in order to care for injured calves.
Farmers are also learning that if they leave some of their fields fallow, elephants love the new shoots and those fields can form a buffer zone around crops.
Coexistence
If they are to survive in real numbers, coexistence with elephants is key. Researchers say the more we can understand individual elephants, the better we will be able to predict their behavior and avoid conflict.
Senior mahouts, men who live with elephants, are now more respected and their opinions sought out to better understand these animals.
Newly designed, solar powered, electrified, elephant-specific village fences can also reduce conflict.
Early warning systems like blinking red lights can also reduce human casualties as does better planning for garbage dumps and new developments.
Elephants in the golden triangle region of Thailand try to work out puzzle boxes that contain fruit. This experiment by the psychology department at CUNY University of New York is designed to better understand individual elephant behavior and problem solving.
Looking to the future
The wildlife departments of most Asian elephant countries are woefully underfunded. The pressure on elephants comes largely from development and habitat loss so it makes sense that the departments of agriculture and development should also be responsible.
These power players need to be held to account and external pressure from big business can play a role. They need to be in a dynamic relationship with the wildlife department to plan appropriately. Besides, their natural right to life, elephants are a vital part of a valuable tourism industry in most of these places, that is further incentive to hold those who place development ahead of elephants responsible.
