Animation tracking the loss of suitable environment for Asian elephants (yellow) in between 1700-2015. A study published in Scientific Reports led by UC San Diego taking a look at habitats throughout centuries reveals an immediate need for sustainable land-use and preservation strategies to prevent risks for wildlife and human communities. Credit: Ashley Weaver
Animation tracking the loss of appropriate habitat for Asian elephants (yellow) in between 1700-2015. Credit: Ashley WeaverShermin de Silva and associates estimated the modification in the spread and fragmentation of Asian elephant communities in 13 nations between the years 850 and 2015 and computed the change in appropriate habitat from 1700 to 2015.
The authors compared a location within 100km of the present variety of elephants in Asia and discovered that in 1700, 100% of the location could have been considered appropriate environment however by 2015 less than half was thought about suitable (48.6%). They recommend that mainland China, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Sumatra have actually each lost over half of their appropriate elephant environment range, with the best declines in China (around 94% of ideal habitat lost) and India (around 86% of suitable environment lost). Estimates of land in Borneo recommend it has actually acquired habitat that is appropriate for elephants. The authors recommend that the reduction in suitable habitat for Asian elephants might drive potential dispute in between elephants and individuals.
The authors conclude that it is necessary to consider the history of the landscape to comprehend the distribution of elephants in Asia and to help develop more sustainable land-use and conservation techniques to fulfill the needs of both elephants and individuals.
For more on this research, see The Alarming Decline of Elephant Ecosystems.
Referral: “Land‑use change is associated with multi‑century loss of elephant ecosystems in Asia” 27 April 2023, Scientific Reports.DOI: 10.1038/ s41598-023-30650-8.
The study found that while in 1700, 100% of the area within 100km of the existing elephant range could have been considered suitable habitat, by 2015, less than half (48.6%) was deemed appropriate. Countries such as China and India have actually lost around 94% and 86% of ideal elephant habitat, respectively.
Asian elephant habitats throughout Asia have decreased by over 64% considering that 1700, equating to a loss of 3.3 million square kilometers. Researchers found that by 2015, less than half of the location within 100km of the current elephant variety was considered suitable, with nations like China and India seeing drastic habitat losses. The findings highlight the requirement for sustainable land use and conservation techniques.
Habitats suitable for Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) across Asia have decreased by over 64%– relating to 3.3 million square kilometers (1.3 million square miles) of land– since the year 1700, estimates a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that habitat loss from 1700, after centuries of relative stability, corresponds with the colonial-era usage of land and subsequent agricultural surge in South Asia.
Asian elephants reside in a series of habitats consisting of meadows and jungles, but with increasing human use of land and environment loss, elephants can enter into conflict with humans. To examine the historic circulation of elephant habitats and land-use modification, information on elephants and ecological aspects can be designed to presume habitat viability across a location and gradually.
The study found that while in 1700, 100% of the area within 100km of the existing elephant range could have been considered appropriate environment, by 2015, less than half (48.6%) was considered ideal. The authors compared an area within 100km of the current range of elephants in Asia and found that in 1700, 100% of the area could have been considered appropriate habitat however by 2015 less than half was considered ideal (48.6%). They suggest that mainland China, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Sumatra have actually each lost more than half of their ideal elephant habitat range, with the greatest decreases in China (around 94% of appropriate environment lost) and India (around 86% of appropriate environment lost). The authors suggest that the decline in appropriate habitat for Asian elephants might drive possible conflict between individuals and elephants.