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== Status and Conservation == | == Status and Conservation == | ||
Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with its wild population having declined by at least 50% over the last three generations. The species faces significant threats from environmental degradation, habitat loss, and fragmentation, primarily driven by an expanding human population. This expansion often leads to increased conflicts between humans and elephants, particularly when elephants consume or trample crops. | |||
A substantial portion of the elephant's range and suitable habitat has been lost, with their movement hindered by various human developments, including reservoirs, dams, hydroelectric projects, canals, agricultural land, highways, railway lines, mining, and other industrial activities. Poaching for ivory remains a serious threat in certain regions of Asia. The poaching of tuskers disproportionately affects sex ratios, leading to highly female-biased populations, while also reducing genetic variation and negatively impacting fecundity and recruitment rates. | |||
A study conducted at the [[Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary | Periyar Tiger Reserve]] revealed dramatic changes in adult sex ratios due to poaching; between 1969 and 1989, the male-to-female ratio shifted from 1:6 to 1:122. In India, elephant mortality is also exacerbated by railway accidents, as railway tracks often cut across elephant corridors. Elephants attempting to move between forest patches sometimes collide with trains, resulting in fatalities. From 1958 to 2008, 39 dead elephants were recorded in East India, with ten of those reported killed between 2004 and 2008. | |||
Additionally, electrocution from contact with electric poles and transformers poses another major threat to elephants in India. An estimated 461 elephants were electrocuted between 2009 and 2017, highlighting the critical challenges facing this endangered species. | |||
In [[Bangladesh]], significant reductions in forested areas that once served as prime habitat for elephants have drastically impacted the wild elephant population. This habitat loss and fragmentation are primarily attributed to the increasing human population's demand for fuel wood and timber, which leads to illegal logging, deforestation, and habitat degradation. Consequently, as their natural habitat shrinks, elephants have become more prone to direct conflicts with humans. | |||
In Myanmar, the demand for elephant ivory has spurred extensive poaching, with the ivory trade providing substantial income for illegal activities. Prices for raw ivory in the clandestine market rose from $76{{refn|on the 24-03-2025, 188.1 US$ and 15,400.20 ₹ [source: Perplexity AI]}} per kilogram in 1989-90 to over $200 {{refn|on 24-03-2025, 24,154.34 ₹, [source: Perplexity AI]}} per kilogram by the mid-1990s, driven largely by foreign tourists whose demand fuels the illegal killing of elephants. Additionally, there is a significant trade in ivory chopsticks and carvings, which are smuggled by traders from Myanmar into China. | |||
Furthermore, many elephants are captured and raised in captivity for various purposes, including logging, tourism, religious festivals, and entertainment events. In some cases, young wild-born elephant calves are taken from their mothers in Myanmar to be used in Thailand's tourism industry. This process often results in the mothers being killed during capture, and the calves are subsequently placed alongside unrelated captive females. The calves typically undergo a brutal 'breaking in' process that may involve confinement, starvation, beating, and torture, leading to a high mortality rate, with approximately two-thirds of them perishing as a result. | |||
=== Conservation === | |||
[[File:Indian Elephants.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Indian elephants in Mudumalai National Park]] | |||
The Indian elephant is classified as a protected species under Schedule I of the Indian '''Wild Life Protection Act, 1972{{refn|{{lang-hi|वन्य जीव (रक्षण) अधिनियम, १९७२}}}}. In response to the challenges faced by elephant populations, '''Project Elephant''' was launched in 1992 by the [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Ministry of Environment and Forests]] of the [[Government of India]]. This initiative aims to provide both financial and technical support for wildlife management efforts across various states. | |||
The primary objective of Project Elephant is to ensure the long-term survival of viable, conservation-reliant populations of elephants in their natural habitats. This is achieved through the protection of elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors. The project also addresses human-animal conflict, promotes the welfare of elephants in captivity, supports research on the ecology and management of elephants, raises conservation awareness among local communities, and enhances veterinary care for captive elephants. | |||
As of December 2023, India has established 33 notified elephant reserves, which collectively cover an area of 80,778 square kilometers. These reserves play a crucial role in safeguarding elephant populations and their habitats while fostering coexistence between humans and elephants. | |||
== Culture == | |||
The Indian elephant holds significant cultural importance throughout its range in Asia, prominently featured in various religious traditions and mythologies. Elephants are often viewed positively and revered as deities, embodying attributes such as strength, wisdom, and good fortune. In Hindu Dharma, the Indian elephant is associated with Lord Ganesha, who is easily recognised by his elephant head and represents various qualities, including intellect and prosperity. Additionally, elephants are acknowledged within the Buddhist pantheon of gods and play a vital role in religious practices. | |||
Elephants are frequently incorporated into temple rituals and elaborate ceremonies, and they are integral to major Hindu festivals such as [[Dussehra]] and [[Pooram]], where they participate in processions and celebrations. | |||
In recognition of their cultural significance, the Indian elephant has been designated as the national heritage animal of India. It also serves as the national animal of Thailand and Laos. Furthermore, the Indian elephant is recognised as the state animal in several Indian states, including [[Jharkhand]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], and [[Odisha]], highlighting its esteemed status across different regions. | |||
==Read also== | |||
* [[Elephants in Thailand]] | |||
* [[Elephants in Kerala culture]] | |||
* [[Sri Lankan elephant]] | |||
* [[Sumatran elephant]] | |||
* [[Borneo elephant]] | |||
* [[Javan elephant]] | |||
* [[List of individual elephants]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||