How Are We Helping Asian Elephants?

The Asian elephant is a magnificent animal, one, which has special significance for people all over the world. Weighing up to 5 tonnes and standing at a height of up to 3 metres they are the largest land animals in Asia with very few natural predators.

However due to a combination of pollution, encroachment and habitat destruction resulting from human activity, Conservationists believe there are now less than 30,000 Asian elephants left in the wild. Therefore this majestic animal which once roamed right across Asia finds itself on the endangered species list, meaning it faces the threat of extinction in the near future.

The Conservation Effort

The main focus of the conservation effort is on the elephants' habitat. Over recent years intensive logging and farming have resulted in huge swathes of forest leaving less than 15% of the original area. Ironically in some parts of Asia it is the elephants themselves that are used (by humans) to pull the huge logs out of the forest to be transported away.

Conservation charities have been working hard with local communities to halt the devastation. For example in Thailand, the superstitions of the Buddhist communities have been utilised as a way of saving the elephants of Chiang Mai province. By tying brightly coloured Buddhist cloth around trees, they are saved from being cut down because people believe that bad luck would result. This seemingly small program has proved extremely effective despite only being introduced a few years ago.

Green Shoots

As well as preventing trees from being cut down, conservationists have been planting new hard wood trees. These fast growing trees will help replenish the rainforest quicker so that Thailand's elephants can once again enjoy a larger area. Plans are also being developed to take similar programs across Asia to give back the natural environment.

Utilising Modern Technology

Modern technology such as chainsaws, heavy land moving equipment etc is largely responsible for the devastation to the rainforests but through the use of other modern technology conservationists hope to get ahead in their efforts to save the Asian elephant.

GPS trackers allow scientists and researcher to follow herds of wild elephants through the forests so they can gain a better understanding of their movements. Computer generated land models can be used to identify areas where the elephants could live and develop so their numbers are allowed to grow once more.

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Supporting conservation projects worldwide so that the magnificent Asian elephant has a chance of survival. Without our help this species which has roamed the earth for almost 7 million years could become extinct within the century.

The Two Species of Elephants & Their Differences

The two species of elephants are the Asian and the African elephants. There are distinctive differences between the two, which are highlighted below:

The African elephant is termed scientifically as Loxodonta africana and weighs between 4,000 and 7,000 kilograms. At shoulder height, the elephant can stand anywhere between 3 and 4 metres tall. Its skin has a more wrinkled appearance than that of the Asian elephant. It also has 21 pairs of ribs and its highest point is at the shoulder. The African elephant is easily recognised by its ears, which fan out in a distinctive shape over its shoulders and neck.

The shape of the African elephant's back is concave and the shape of its belly runs diagonally downwards towards its hind legs. The shape of its head is flattened on top, not crumpled and shows no visible humps or dents. The profile of the African elephant's molars are diamond shaped and the tusks are prevalent in both sexes, but larger in the males. The lower lip is short and round, the trunk more ringed and softer, and the trunk end has two fingers.

The Asian elephant weighs between 3,000 and 6,000kg and stands at a height of 2 - 3.5 metres. It has 20 pairs of ribs and has its highest point on the back, which is usually convex or straight. Its ears are much smaller than the African variety and the belly is either straight or sags slightly in the middle.

The head has a more crumpled appearance with a dent in the middle of the scull. The lower lip is long and tapered and the trunk has less rings and is harder, ending in one finger instead of two like African elephants. An interesting fact is that the two species cannot be interbred because of their vast genetic differences.

Find out more about Asian Elephants, including the Asian Elephant's endangered status.