Why is the Asian elephant in danger?

The greatest threat to the survival of the Asian elephant is the invasion of its natural habitat by man. Deforestation and agriculture are eliminating their food source, causing many of these magnificent animals to starve. Another reason this magnificent animal is in danger is due to the fact that they are being hunted for their ivory tusks. This practice is illegal, but poachers still earn large sums of money from elephant tusks.

Elephants can weigh up to 5.5 tons and reach a height of 3 meters, yet despite their volume and strength, they are still extremely fragile. They can be found everywhere from evergreen forests to dry scrublands, and can spend up to 20 hours a day foraging. An adult Asian elephant can consume up to 200 kg of food a day, from fruits to berries and bushes, leaves and bark.

Pollution of the environment in which Asian elephants live is also having a negative impact on these animals. Today there are less than 50,000 in nature and that nature is slowly disappearing as vegetation clears to make way for progress. Ironically, elephants are used to clear large tracts of land.

A battle for resources has led to tragic conflicts between Asian elephants and humans, resulting in the deaths of many elephants who are reported as ‘rogues’. Unfortunately, the aggressive behavior of elephants can cause great devastation and even human death, which is why an aggressive elephant is quickly killed. Approximately 15,000 Asian elephants are kept in captivity, many of them in questionable circumstances. They are currently on the endangered species list and will continue to be until conservation efforts are underway to preserve what remains of their natural habitat.