Journal articles on the topic 'Elephant, asian'
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1
Papakonstantinidis, Leonidas A., and T. G. Supun Lahiru Prakash. "Analysis of Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri-Lanka by The Win-Win-Win Papakonstantinidis Model." International Journal of Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship 2, no. 1 (August 13, 2019): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/ijebe.v2i1.44.
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Asian Elephants have been revered for centuries and playing an important role in the continent's culture and religion where they habitat. Sri Lanka plays an important role in Asian elephant conservation in accommodating more than 10% of the global Asian elephant population in less than 2% of global Asian elephant range. Human – Elephant conflict (HEC) is a significant component in Socio – economic development in Sri Lanka and conservation of free range elephnats. In this study we attempted to Analysis Human-elephant conflict in Sri-Lanka using the win-win-win Papakonstantinidis model.
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Santiapillai, Charles, and Bruce Read. "Would masking the smell of ripening paddy-fields help mitigate human–elephant conflict in Sri Lanka?" Oryx 44, no. 4 (October 2010): 509–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605310000906.
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AbstractDespite its small size and high human population Sri Lanka is home to c. 4,400 wild Asian elephants Elephas maximus. Human–elephant conflict around agriculture is severe, with > 100 elephants and c. 50 people killed annually. Elephants appear to be able to time their raiding of paddy-fields in Sri Lanka with the harvesting of the rice, as if they are responding to an olfactory trigger. It is the elephant’s sophisticated chemosensory system that may hold the key to resolving human–elephant conflict. Research is required to determine the odours associated with the various development stages of rice, using gas chromatography, and to find a suitable substance that could be used to mask the specific odour of ripening rice. The use of chemosensory-based methods, if feasible, will not be a universal panacea for the mitigation of human–elephant conflict but, in combination with other methods, could reduce conflict and make it easier for farmers to harvest their crops in safety. Such a combination of methods could be useful across the range of both Asian and African elephants.
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Su, Kaiwen, Jie Ren, Jie Yang, Yilei Hou, and Yali Wen. "Human-Elephant Conflicts and Villagers’ Attitudes and Knowledge in the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, China." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 23 (November 30, 2020): 8910. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238910.
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In this study, we analyzed the accidents associated with the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus Linnaeus) and issues pertaining to compensation in Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve from 2011 to 2018. We conducted interviews and a questionnaire survey with 217 villagers. The results show that: (1) the main Asian elephants damage is crop loss (more than 95% of the total damage), and the villagers suffer economic losses; (2) through the influence of traditional culture and natural education, the majority of local villagers still have a favorable impression of Asian elephants; (3) female respondents, those engaged in agricultural production, those who had experienced crop loss and those who had never seen Asian elephants had more negative attitudes toward Asian elephants; (4) most villagers believe that the Asian elephant population has increased in the past decade; and (5) the villagers are quite passive in the human–elephant conflict, and most of them do not take action. Finally, based on the research results, this paper discusses the causes of human elephant conflict and proposes targeted mitigation measures.
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Kitamura, Shumpei, Takakazu Yumoto, Pilai Poonswad, and Prawat Wohandee. "Frugivory and seed dispersal by Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, in a moist evergreen forest of Thailand." Journal of Tropical Ecology 23, no. 3 (April 24, 2007): 373–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467407004026.
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The Asian elephant Elephas maximus is the only living species of the genus Elephas (Elephantidae) that evolved in Africa c. 5–6 million y ago and migrated into Eurasia (Sukumar 2003). The Asian elephant is one of the few remaining extant megafauna (Owen-Smith 1988) and has disappeared from c. 95% of its historical range (Sukumar 2006). Asian elephants eat fruit when it is available, defecating intact seeds, of which some later germinate in the dung (Lekagul & McNeely 1977, Ridley 1930). However, to date there has been no detailed study of frugivory and seed dispersal by Asian elephants (Corlett 1998). The only common feature of the fruit reported to be eaten by Asian elephants is their relatively large size, but there is no evidence that they are exclusive dispersers of any plant species (Corlett 1998), in contrast to the more frugivorous African forest elephants, Loxodonta africana cyclotis (Babweteera et al. 2007, Chapman et al. 1992, Cochrane 2003, Feer 1995).
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Palei, Nimain Charan, Himanshu Shekhar Palei, Bhakta Padarbinda Rath, and Chandra Sekhar Kar. "Mortality of the Endangered Asian elephant Elephas maximus by electrocution in Odisha, India." Oryx 48, no. 4 (July 18, 2014): 602–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003060531400012x.
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AbstractElephants are threatened globally by habitat loss, poaching and accelerating levels of human–elephant conflict. In the state of Odisha, east India, electrocution by domestic electric power lines is causing mortality of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus. We collated data on elephant mortality from such electrocution in the villages surrounding elephant habitat for a period of 12 years (2001–2012). During this period 118 elephants were killed in 91 incidences. Most deaths (73.68%) were a result of accidental contact with electric power lines whilst elephants were moving into agricultural areas for crop raiding. The increasing human population, poor electrical infrastructure and ivory poaching pose serious threats to the continued survival of these elephants. To reduce elephant mortality from electrocution and to ensure the long-term survival of this population of elephants we recommend strengthening of the electrical infrastructure, minimizing habitat destruction, increasing public awareness of the problem, and stronger law enforcement.
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Tollis, Marc, Elliott Ferris, Michael S. Campbell, Valerie K. Harris, Shawn M. Rupp, Tara M. Harrison, Wendy K. Kiso, et al. "Elephant Genomes Reveal Accelerated Evolution in Mechanisms Underlying Disease Defenses." Molecular Biology and Evolution 38, no. 9 (May 3, 2021): 3606–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab127.
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Abstract Disease susceptibility and resistance are important factors for the conservation of endangered species, including elephants. We analyzed pathology data from 26 zoos and report that Asian elephants have increased neoplasia and malignancy prevalence compared with African bush elephants. This is consistent with observed higher susceptibility to tuberculosis and elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) in Asian elephants. To investigate genetic mechanisms underlying disease resistance, including differential responses between species, among other elephant traits, we sequenced multiple elephant genomes. We report a draft assembly for an Asian elephant, and defined 862 and 1,017 conserved potential regulatory elements in Asian and African bush elephants, respectively. In the genomes of both elephant species, conserved elements were significantly enriched with genes differentially expressed between the species. In Asian elephants, these putative regulatory regions were involved in immunity pathways including tumor-necrosis factor, which plays an important role in EEHV response. Genomic sequences of African bush, forest, and Asian elephant genomes revealed extensive sequence conservation at TP53 retrogene loci across three species, which may be related to TP53 functionality in elephant cancer resistance. Positive selection scans revealed outlier genes related to additional elephant traits. Our study suggests that gene regulation plays an important role in the differential inflammatory response of Asian and African elephants, leading to increased infectious disease and cancer susceptibility in Asian elephants. These genomic discoveries can inform future functional and translational studies aimed at identifying effective treatment approaches for ill elephants, which may improve conservation.
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Ehlers, Bernhard, Güzin Dural, Manfred Marschall, Vera Schregel, Michael Goltz, and Jochen Hentschke. "Endotheliotropic elephant herpesvirus, the first betaherpesvirus with a thymidine kinase gene." Journal of General Virology 87, no. 10 (October 1, 2006): 2781–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81977-0.
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Endotheliotropic elephant herpesvirus (elephantid herpesvirus 1; ElHV-1) is apathogenic for African elephants (Loxodonta africana), but causes fatal haemorrhagic disease in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). This is thought to occur through transmission from African elephants in places where both species are housed, such as zoological gardens. The virus has caused considerable losses in North American and European zoological gardens and thus severely impedes breeding of the endangered Asian elephant. Previously, the ultrastructural and genetic characterization of ElHV-1 from a male Asian elephant that died from the disease at the Berlin zoological gardens in 1998 have been reported. Here, a partial characterization of the ElHV-1 genome is presented. A 60 kbp locus, spanning 34 open reading frames, was analysed. Most of the detected genes were found to be conserved among the herpesviruses and showed an overall arrangement most similar to that of betaherpesviruses, in particular Human herpesvirus 6 and Human herpesvirus 7. Most importantly, in addition to a protein kinase gene that is homologous to the human cytomegalovirus UL97 gene, a thymidine kinase (TK) gene was found, which is generally missing in betaherpesvirus genomes. Thus, ElHV-1 is the only known betaherpesvirus to encode a TK gene. This peculiarity might contribute to the fulminant pathogenicity of ElHV-1, but also provide a crucial enzymic activity for developing an efficient antiviral therapy with currently available nucleoside analogues.
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Kongrit, Chalita. "Genetic Tools for the Conservation of Wild Asian Elephants." International Journal of Biology 9, no. 2 (January 3, 2017): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijb.v9n2p1.
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The distribution of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has been limited to the remaining discontinuous forests, mainly in the South and Southeast Asia. A global number of wild Asian elephants have been declining due to habitat loss, forest fragmentation, and anthropogenic disturbance. Acquiring information of wild populations is important for effective conservation and management plan. This article reviews the applications of noninvasive genetic method as a tool for studying wild Asian elephants. Noninvasive genetic method has been introduced to the field of wildlife conservation for more than two decades. The method provides reliable information of a population and facilitates investigation of genetic effects on small and fragmented populations. Various DNA markers for the Asian elephant, those include mitochondrial DNA, microsatellite DNA, and sex determination markers, have been developed and used to study wild elephant populations across the distribution range. Most of the studies revealed the issues of low genetic diversity in the small populations and interruption of gene flow among the fragmented populations. Tracking of ivory poaching has not yet been done in the Asian elephant. It could be carried out if a reference genetic database of the natural populations is available. Noninvasive genetic method has been proved to be a promising tool for conservation of the wild Asian elephants. Transboundary collaboration would give hope for a successful long-term conservation of this charismatic species in their natural habitats.
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SIPRIYADI, YANSEN, ARDEA BUJANA, ENI SURYANTI, MUHAMMAD CAHYADI, RICHI YULIAVIAN KUSMINANTO, CHOIRUL MUSLIM, TETI NAIBAHO, and MONICA ANGGRAINI. "GENETIC ANALYSIS OF SUMATRAN ELEPHANTS IN SEBLAT NATURAL ECOTOURISM PARK BASED ON PARTIAL OF MITOCHONDRIAL CYTOCHROME B GENE." Malaysian Applied Biology 51, no. 3 (September 30, 2022): 117–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.55230/mabjournal.v51i3.2238.
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Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus Temminck, 1847) is one of the Asian elephant sub-species distributed in Sumatera Island and classified as endangered species due to hunting and high habitat fragmentation. This study aimed to analyze the genetic relationship of Sumatran elephants based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (Cyt b). Blood samples were collected from 11 elephants in Seblat Natural Ecotourism Park. Based on mt-DNA Cytochrome b gene analysis, low genetic diversity was found in the Sumatran elephant population, indicated by 99-100% sequence similarity among elephant samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all elephants were in the same clade and has a close relationship with Borneo elephants. Additionally, the Median-joining network illustrated only two haplotypes in the Sumatran elephant population. The low genetic diversity of the Sumatran elephant indicates that a strategic breeding program should be seriously taken into account to prevent the Sumatran elephant from extinction.
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Miller, David, Bradford Jackson, Heidi S. Riddle, Christopher Stremme, Dennis Schmitt, and Thaddeus Miller. "Elephant (Elephas maximus) Health and Management in Asia: Variations in Veterinary Perspectives." Veterinary Medicine International 2015 (2015): 1–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/614690.
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There is a need to identify strategic investments in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) health that will yield maximal benefits for overall elephant health and conservation. As an exploratory first step, a survey was administered to veterinarians from Asian elephant range countries at a workshop and via email to help prioritize health-related concerns that will mostly benefit elephants. Responses were received from 45 veterinarians from eight countries that had a range of experience with captive and wild elephants. The occurrence of medical conditions and responses to treatment varied among responses. However, injuries, parasitism, and gastrointestinal disease were reported as the most common syndromes responsible for elephant morbidity, whereas injury and infectious disease not due to parasitism were the most commonly reported sources of elephant mortality. Substandard nutrition, water quality and quantity deficiencies, and inadequate or absent shelter were among the factors listed as barriers to optimal elephant health. While this survey’s results do not support definitive conclusions, they can be used to identify where and how subsequent investigations should be directed. Rigorous assessment of the relative costs and benefits of available options is required to ensure that investments in individual and population health yield the maximal benefits for elephants.
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Shrestha, Sami, and Jiban Shrestha. "Asian elephants and their status in Nepal: a review." Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources 4, no. 2 (January 1, 2021): 227–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/janr.v4i2.33828.
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Wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are one of the most endangered wildlife species in Nepal. Currently, there are approximately 200 to 250 wild elephants counted in Nepal. Of them, 15-20 are in Jhapa district, 17 are in KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve, eight in Sindhuli, and 45-50 in Parsa National Park andChitwan National Park. More than 100 elephants are in Bardiya National Parks and adjoining municipalities, and 25-30 are in Suklaphanta National Park and adjoining municipalities.Elephant conservation is challenged by habitat fragmentation, obstruction of migratory routes and human-elephant conflict. The governments of Nepal, law enforcement, NGOs, and local communities have made various initiatives to conserve elephants. In the paper, we have outlined the current status of the elephant population, and its conservative efforts. This study may be a useful tool for the scientific communities and ecologists to protect elephants from extinction.
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Shoshani, Jeheskel, Jerold M. Lowenstein, Daniel A. Walz, and Morris Goodman. "Proboscidean origins of mastodon and woolly mammoth demonstrated immunologically." Paleobiology 11, no. 4 (1985): 429–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0094837300011714.
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Immunologically reactive protein substances were extracted from bone samples of an American mastodon (Mammut americanum), 10,200 yr old by radiocarbon dating, and from muscle samples of three woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius), 10,000, 40,000 and 53,000 yr old, respectively. The mastodon samples contained significant quantities of the amino acids hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline, both of which are usually found in collagens and not in albumins. Using these products and other comparable extracts, as well as sera and purified collagens from modern elephants and other living mammals, as test antigens, immunological comparisons were carried out with the following antisera: rabbit anti-mastodon bone; chicken anti-mammoth muscle; chicken anti-elephant muscle; rabbit anti-elephant albumin and rabbit anti-elephant collagen, as well as with rabbit antisera to purified albumins and collagens of other mammals. For the first time, mastodon bone was found to have elephant-like proteins, which elicited antibodies that reacted strongly with collagen and serum proteins of extant elephants. Mammoth muscle strongly reacted with anti-elephant collagen and anti-elephant albumin, but the concentrations of the recoverable mammoth collagen and albumin decreased with increasing chronological age of the mammoth specimens. Nevertheless, in the immunological comparisons, the mammoth was closer to Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants than to the mastodon; in turn, the mastodon was closer to these elephantid species than to mammals outside the order Proboscidea.
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Amorntiyangkul, Peerawit, Anak Pattanavibool, Weeraya Ochakul, Wichien Chinnawong, Supalerk Klanprasert, Chatwaroon Aungkeaw, Prateep Duengkae, and Warong Suksavate. "Dynamic Occupancy of Wild Asian Elephant: A Case Study Based On the SMART Database from the Western Forest Complex in Thailand." Environment and Natural Resources Journal 20, no. 3 (March 21, 2022): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.32526/ennrj/20/202200005.
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Understanding distribution patterns is essential for the long-term conservation of megafauna, particularly the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). We investigated the dynamic occupancy of Asian elephants in the Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand. Asian elephant occurrences were recorded during patrol activities from 2012 to 2019. We applied a single-species dynamic occupancy model to examine the environmental factors influencing habitat occupancy of Asian elephant across multiple seasons. The best-supported model, based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC), indicated that the normalized difference vegetation index and elevation positively influenced the probability of colonization. In contrast, the distance to the nearest population source sites showed a negative association. The probability of local extinction was positively correlated with the distance to the nearest villages and population source sites. The predictive map indicated a higher probability of colonization in a remote mountainous region of the center of the protected area. Higher extinction probability was associated with areas of dense human activity and far from population source sites connecting the Asian elephant population to the east. This is the first study to utilize a patrol database for assessing the dynamic occupancy of Asian elephants across multiple years. Our model provides insight into the dynamic distribution patterns of Asian elephants within the wildlife sanctuary and the factors that most influence these patterns. Long-term ecological data provide crucial information for assessing biodiversity, population status, and the ecological processes of focal wildlife species and are valuable for both protected area management and conservation efforts.
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Kumar, Vinod, Muthulingam Pradheeps, Adiseshu Kokkiligadda, Rajashekhar Niyogi, and Govindhaswamy Umapathy. "Non-Invasive Assessment of Physiological Stress in Captive Asian Elephants." Animals 9, no. 8 (August 14, 2019): 553. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9080553.
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Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) populations, both in the wild and in captivity, have been continually declining over the decades. The present study examined the physiological stress response of captive Asian elephants in relation to body condition score and different working conditions. A total of 870 dung samples of 37 captive elephants (24 males and 13 females) from four facilities were collected to examine fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations (fGCM). The elephants in forest camps with exposure to natural habitats had a higher body condition score than those in more confined spaces. Wild born elephants and females (except in one case) had higher concentrations of fGCM than captive born elephants and males, respectively. Elephants engaged in the Dussehra festival had elevated fGCM concentrations than their counterparts at Mysore zoo. We recommend a few management practices for the long-term survival of rapidly declining captive elephant populations.
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Sampson, Christie, Peter Leimgruber, Shari Rodriguez, John McEvoy, Elaine Sotherden, and David Tonkyn. "Perception of Human–Elephant Conflict and Conservation Attitudes of Affected Communities in Myanmar." Tropical Conservation Science 12 (January 2019): 194008291983124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1940082919831242.
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Myanmar is an ideal location for Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus L.) conservation because it still contains large expanses of elephant habitat. However, increasing human–elephant conflict (HEC) threatens to derail ongoing elephant conservation programs. We conducted 303 interviews in rural communities living near elephants to help inform long-term management strategies to conserve this endangered species. We sought to understand the main challenges that people in these communities face in improving their quality of life, as well as the types and levels of HEC they experience and their attitudes toward elephant conservation. Poverty, not conflict with elephants, was the greatest obstacle reported by our participants. However, HEC was deemed a moderate to major problem, with 38% of farmers indicating they lost half or more of their crops to elephants the previous year. Our results showed that communities living in proximity to and often harmed by elephants were nevertheless supportive of elephant conservation and willing to contribute to conservation efforts. This result offers hope in the quest to maintain elephant populations in Myanmar. We conclude that conservation policies that also address societal challenges such as poverty may be more effective in protecting elephants than policies that address HEC alone.
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Ngamkala, Suchanit, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Weerapun Nokkaew, and Nikorn Thongtip. "Serological study on brucellosis in captive elephants (Elephas maximus) and stray dogs in North Thailand." Veterinary World 13, no. 9 (2020): 1992–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.1992-1997.
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Background and Aim: Brucellosis is considered as an important zoonotic disease caused by various strains of Brucella in numerous host species. Although brucellosis has been reported in almost animal species, the relevance of brucellosis infection and diagnostic technique in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has been limited. The present serological investigation aimed to investigate the antibody response to Brucella abortus in captive Asian elephants in North Thailand. Moreover, further serological survey was also conducted to detect the antibody response to Brucella canis in stray dogs cohabiting the same area as the elephant herd. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 40 captive Asian elephants and submitted for serological analysis based on B. abortus antigen using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-tube agglutination test (EDTA-TAT) as a supplementary test and by commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). In addition, serum samples were also obtained from 16 stray dogs that live nearby the elephant-raising area and were tested using commercial Dot-ELISA based on B. canis antigen. Results: Serological analysis in captive Asian elephants showed 100% seronegative (40/40) from all serological tests response to B. abortus. For stray dogs, 12.5% (2/16) had a low positive reaction response to B. canis. Conclusion: The serological survey for brucellosis in Asian elephant was adapted and applied using RBPT, EDTA-TAT, and iELISA in the present study. For future evaluation, we recommended the use of a combination of serological tests with validation together with comparing by direct detection such as bacterial isolation to provide an appropriate brucellosis surveillance program in Asian elephants. In addition, the surveillance of stray dogs or multispecies habitation should be kept into considerations.
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Kochakul, Varankpicha, Kittikorn Boonsri, Saruda Tiwananthagorn, Chalermchart Somgird, Chatchote Thitaram, and Kidsadagon Pringproa. "Development of in situ hybridization for detection of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus in Asian elephants." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 30, no. 4 (May 7, 2018): 628–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1040638718773810.
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Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is one of the most important viral infectious diseases affecting the elephant population worldwide, especially juveniles and young adults. We developed a chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) test for detection of EEHV in Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus). Digoxigenin (DIG) DNA probes from the polymerase and terminase genes of EEHV were synthesized using a PCR DIG-labeling method, and detection of hybridized probe to target EEHV DNA was carried out by anti-DIG immunolabeling. Distribution of EEHV-1A and EEHV-4 genomes was found to be prominent in mononuclear phagocytic cells of spleen and endothelial cells of visceral organs. ISH enables the detection of EEHV infection and has applications in understanding pathogenesis of EEHV in Asian elephants.
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Boehlke, Carolin, Sabrina Schuster, Lucas Kauthe, Oliver Zierau, and Christian Hannig. "Nutritional influences on enzyme activities in saliva of Asian and African elephants." Journal of Comparative Physiology B 191, no. 5 (July 7, 2021): 955–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00360-021-01378-6.
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AbstractAsian and African elephants show morphological adaptations to their ecological niche including the oral cavity. Variety and preferences of forage plants differ between both herbivorous elephant species. Diet can affect salivary enzymes. Asian elephants were shown to have a higher salivary amylase activity than African elephants. Species-specific differences were presumed to be influenced by feeding during collection procedure. This study aimed to determine the influence of feeding on enzyme activities in saliva of both elephant species to differentiate from species-specific effects. Additionally, season and housing conditions on salivary enzyme activities in non-fed elephants of both species were investigated. Salivary amylase (sAA), lysozyme (sLYS) and peroxidase (sPOD) activity were measured photometrically or fluorometrically. Results of this study reinforce previous observations of higher basic sAA activity in Asian elephants compared to African elephants. Salivary LYS and sPOD activity showed neither species-specific nor housing-specific differences. Independent from season, most elephants of both species revealed a lack of or low sPOD activity. Feeding caused a temporary decrease of sAA, sLYS and sPOD activity in both elephant species kept in four of eight tested zoos. Furthermore, sAA activity in Asian elephants was higher and sLYS activity lower in Spring than in Autumn. This study summarizes that sAA and sLYS are components of Asian and African elephant saliva in an active conformation in contrast to sPOD. Diet varying between season and zoos might influence sAA and sLYS activities primarily in Asian elephants but temporary low effects suggest sufficient buffer capacity of elephant saliva of both species.
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Seltmann, Martin W., Samuli Helle, Mark J. Adams, Khyne U. Mar, and Mirkka Lahdenperä. "Evaluating the personality structure of semi-captive Asian elephants living in their natural habitat." Royal Society Open Science 5, no. 2 (February 2018): 172026. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.172026.
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Data on personality for long-lived, highly social wild mammals with high cognitive abilities are rare. We investigated the personality structure of Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) by using a large sample of semi-captive timber elephants in Myanmar. Data were collected during 2014–2017 using questionnaires, for which elephant riders (mahouts) rated 28 behavioural adjectives of elephants. Repeated questionnaires were obtained for each elephant from several raters whenever possible, resulting in 690 ratings of 150 female and 107 male elephants. We started by performing a confirmatory factor analysis to compare the fit of our data to a previously published captive elephant personality structure. Owing to a poor fit of this model to our data, we proceeded by performing explanatory factor analysis to determine the personality structure in our study population. This model suggested that personality in these elephants was manifested as three factors that we labelled as Attentiveness, Sociability and Aggressiveness. This structure did not differ between the sexes. These results provide the basis for future research on the link between personality and reproductive success in this endangered species and more generally, help to resolve the selective pressures on personalities in long-lived, highly social species.
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Patil, Milind Digambar, Vinayak Krishna Patil, and Ninad Avinash Mungi. "Spatiotemporal movement pattern of Asian Elephants Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India." Journal of Threatened Taxa 13, no. 5 (April 26, 2021): 18099–109. http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.5573.13.5.18099-18109.
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The extension of the Asian Elephant’s Elephas maximus range in the northern Western Ghats (Sahyadri) was observed since 2002. This colonization was marked by elephant crop raiding events in the newly colonized Sindhudurg District, where the local community had no experience of living with elephants. The present study was conducted to understand the spatiotemporal patterns of crop depredation (raiding) and to prioritize areas to inform future interventions on managing this ecological phenomenon turned conflict. Data on crop raiding between 2002 and 2015 was obtained from compensation records with the state forest department, and mapped at village scale. Subsequently, we used three indices of crop raiding, viz., Crop Raiding Frequency (CRF), Relative Crop Raiding Intensity (RCRI), and Crop Raiding Vulnerability Index (CRVI). Results show a gradual northern movement of elephants and of the crop raiding zone over the period of 2002–2015. The rankings provided by CRVI, identified villages in a narrow strip of foothills of the Sahyadri mountains as severely vulnerable. With sufficient long term data, CRVI would be a highly useful index for prioritization of villages for resolving human-elephant negative interactions; and other cases of human-wildlife interactions too.
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Menon, Vivek, Kamalika Bhattacharyya, Samir Kumar Sinha, Sandeep Kumar Tiwari, and Rahul Kaul. "Shared Landscapes: Optimising Conservation Strategies Using Tiger and Elephant Sympatry in India." Diversity 14, no. 12 (December 1, 2022): 1055. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d14121055.
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Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and tigers (Panthera tigris) share the same landscape in India. Elephants, which range over 239,171 km2, occupy 45.5% of the 433,261 km2 habitat that tigers inhabit. Equally, at least 40% of elephant corridors are used by tigers. A shared landscape offers opportunities for careful, integrated management strategies with shared resources. The species are protected differently in India, with tiger reserves being legal entities dedicated to the protection of tigers and their habitats, and Elephant Reserves being management units with no legal standing. With additional disparities in financial supports to tiger reserves—which receive 10 times more money than elephant reserves—it is obvious that the elephant reserves are being treated inequitably. Since the two species coexist in the same landscapes, efforts to protect tigers can help to make up for elephant conservation gaps and optimise the use of conservation resources by tweaking a few management and policy practices. In addition, the overlay of tigers using elephant corridors can efficiently secure habitat linkages for both species.
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Veasey, Jake Stuart. "Assessing the Psychological Priorities for Optimising Captive Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Welfare." Animals 10, no. 1 (December 23, 2019): 39. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10010039.
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The welfare status of elephants under human care has been a contentious issue for two decades or more in numerous western countries. Much effort has gone into assessing the welfare of captive elephants at individual and population levels with little consensus having been achieved in relation to both the welfare requirements of captive elephants, or their absolute welfare status. A methodology capable of identifying the psychological priorities of elephants would greatly assist in both managing and assessing captive elephant welfare. Here, a Delphi-based Animal Welfare Priority Identification System© (APWIS©) is trialled to evaluate the reliability of the methodology and to determine the welfare significance of individual behaviours and cognitive processes for Asian elephants (Elaphus maximus). APWIS© examines the motivational characteristics, evolutionary significance and established welfare impacts of individual behaviours and cognitive processes of each species being assessed. The assessment carried out here indicates appetitive behaviours essential for survival in the wild, together species-specific social and cognitive opportunities are likely to be important to the welfare of Asian elephant in captivity. The output of this assessment, for the first time, provides comprehensive species-specific psychological/welfare priorities for Asian elephants that should be used to inform husbandry guidelines, habitat design and management strategies and can also provide a valuable reference tool for Asian elephant welfare assessment. The effective application of these insights could lead to substantive improvements in captive Asian elephant welfare.
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LaDue, Chase A., Rajnish P. G. Vandercone, Wendy K. Kiso, and Elizabeth W. Freeman. "Social Behavior and Group Formation in Male Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus): The Effects of Age and Musth in Wild and Zoo-Housed Animals." Animals 12, no. 9 (May 8, 2022): 1215. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12091215.
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Asian elephants are endangered, and the long-term viability of the species depends on integrative approaches to address the sustainability of in-situ and ex-situ populations. Growing evidence shows that male elephants exhibit extensive and flexible social behavior that rivals the complexity of that of females. Male elephant sociality is expected to change dramatically around the unique sexual state of musth. However, data related to male Asian elephant sociality is lacking. Here, we conducted complementary observations in Wasgamuwa National Park, Sri Lanka, and North American zoos of male Asian elephant social behavior. Age and musth status, along with other factors, were associated with variation in social behavior and group formation of males. In wild male elephants, both musth status and age impacted elephant associations within all-male and mixed-sex groups: non-musth elephants were generally sighted less often in mixed-sex groups as they aged, while the inverse occurred with musth elephants. Musth status interacted with age to predict the number of conspecifics with which a wild male elephant associated: younger males were observed with more females during non-musth (but the opposite was true during musth), and male elephants between 20 and 30 years were observed with the highest number of male conspecifics except during musth. Finally, we found variation in aggression, prosocial behavior, and submissive behavior was influenced by intrinsic (age and musth status) and extrinsic factors (group size and type) in similar ways in both populations; prosocial behavior was most common and was influenced by the number of conspecifics present (both populations), and age, group type, and musth status (zoo population), while aggression was rare, especially among older elephants. We suggest that longitudinal studies of this threatened species will be particularly helpful to promote the reproduction and conservation of Asian elephants in in-situ and ex-situ environments.
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Weston, ME, KE Mills, and MAG von Keyserlingk. "Your happiness or mine: Influence of affective states and level of contact on public perceptions of elephant tourism." Animal Welfare 30, no. 3 (August 31, 2021): 279–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.30.3.005.
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Many captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand participate in the tourism industry at attractions known as 'elephant camps.' There has been significant criticism of low welfare venues, where the elephants may experience injuries, poor nutrition, unnatural social environments and aversive handling. Despite increasing concern for animal welfare, the general public often have difficulty identifying the welfare issues affecting captive animals. The aim of this study was to investigate participants' willingness to support an elephant attraction and their perceived emotional value from the experience, based on the affective state of the captive elephant and their level of contact with it. Participants (n = 590) from the United States were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes (using a 2 × 2 experimental design) that described an elephant attraction, varying the affective state of the elephant (feels excellent, feels terrible) and the level of contact they could have with the elephant (low, high). A mixed methods approach was used, where participants provided answers to Likert-type questions, followed by an open-ended response. Participants showed greater willingness to support the elephant attraction and greater perceived emotional value from the experience when the elephant felt excellent, as opposed to when the elephant felt terrible. There were no significant differences between low and high contact for the measures included in this study. Qualitative responses varied greatly, with participants making many assumptions about the elephant and the attraction, revealing potential misconceptions that they had regarding the welfare of captive elephants. This research may be used to encourage a shift in tourism preferences to venues that reflect positive elephant welfare.
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Ariyaraphong, Nattakan, Dung Ho My Nguyen, Worapong Singchat, Warong Suksavate, Thitipong Panthum, Warangkhana Langkaphin, Saran Chansitthiwet, et al. "Standard Identification Certificate for Legal Legislation of a Unique Gene Pool of Thai Domestic Elephants Originating from a Male Elephant Contribution to Breeding." Sustainability 14, no. 22 (November 18, 2022): 15355. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su142215355.
Full textAbstract:
Illegal wildlife trade is a major threat to global biodiversity. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are highly valued by various cultures as religious symbols and tourist attractions, which has led to a high demand for captive elephants. Owing to the unviability of captive breeding programs, several captive elephant populations are maintained by illegally obtaining wild Asian elephants. Morbidity and mortality rates among captive populations are high, whereas reproduction is low. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity among elephants using microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial D-loop sequences of three captive elephant populations. The study results showed very low nucleotide diversity D-loop sequences and high variations in microsatellite genotyping, with an extensive variation of the gene pool estimates from different populations. This suggests that the optimal male selection during breeding could aid in maintaining the genetic diversity among captive populations. Forward genetic simulation revealed a decreasing genetic diversity in the fixed state within 50 generations. However, largely different gene pools can be effectively used to infer original elephant sources; this would facilitate the development of an identification certificate integration with machine learning and image processing to prevent illegal legislation owing to registration fraud between wild and domestic elephants. Implementing the proposed approaches and recommendations would aid in the mitigation of the illegal capture and domestic trade of wild elephants in Thailand and contribute to the success of future conservation plans in the blueprint of sustainable development goals.
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Yang, Yuqing, Junpen Suwimonteerabutr, Taweepoke Angkawanish, and Kaywalee Chatdarong. "Serum Insulin−like Growth Factor−1 Is a Biomarker of Testosterone Production and Intact Acrosome in Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)." Animals 12, no. 12 (June 17, 2022): 1570. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12121570.
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The objective of this study was to find relationships among serum IGF−1, serum testosterone, seminal plasma IGF−1 concentrations and semen parameters in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). A total of 17 ejaculates (one to three ejaculates/bull) were collected from seven captive elephant bulls by performing rectal massage. Before each ejaculation, blood samples were obtained for serum IGF−1 and testosterone assays. Subsequently, the semen characteristics of each ejaculate were evaluated. Mean serum IGF−1 concentration of elephant bulls was estimated as 326.3 ± 114.6 ng/mL (median, 286.2 ng/mL; range, 167.4–542.7 ng/mL). An increase in serum IGF−1 concentration was found to correlate with the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes. In addition, IGF−1 concentration was positively correlated with testosterone level. However, seminal IGF−1 concentrations could not be detected. In conclusion, our findings suggest that serum IGF−1 concentration is likely a biomarker of normal testicular functions, particularly spermatogenesis in elephants. Moreover, this commercial IGF−1 ELISA is eligible for analyzing serum IGF−1 concentration in Asian elephants.
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Ehlers, B., S. Burkhardt, M. Goltz, V. Bergmann, A. Ochs, H. Weiler, and J. Hentschke. "Genetic and ultrastructural characterization of a European isolate of the fatal endotheliotropic elephant herpesvirus." Journal of General Virology 82, no. 3 (March 1, 2001): 475–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-82-3-475.
Full textAbstract:
A male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) died at the Berlin zoological gardens in August 1998 of systemic infection with the novel endotheliotropic elephant herpesvirus (ElHV-1). This virus causes a fatal haemorrhagic disease in Asian elephants, the so-called endothelial inclusion body disease, as reported from North American zoological gardens. In the present work, ElHV-1 was visualized ultrastructurally in affected organ material. Furthermore, a gene block comprising the complete glycoprotein B (gB) and DNA polymerase (DPOL) genes as well as two partial genes was amplified by PCR-based genome walking and sequenced. The gene content and arrangement were similar to those of members of the Betaherpesvirinae. However, phylogenetic analysis with gB and DPOL consistently revealed a very distant relationship to the betaherpesviruses. Therefore, ElHV-1 may be a member of a new genus or even a new herpesvirus subfamily. The sequence information generated was used to set up a nested-PCR assay for diagnosis of suspected cases of endothelial inclusion body disease. Furthermore, it will aid in the development of antibody-based detection methods and of vaccination strategies against this fatal herpesvirus infection in the endangered Asian elephant.
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Thuppil, Vivek, and Richard G. Coss. "Wild Asian elephants distinguish aggressive tiger and leopard growls according to perceived danger." Biology Letters 9, no. 5 (October 23, 2013): 20130518. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2013.0518.
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Prey species exhibit antipredator behaviours such as alertness, aggression and flight, among others, in response to predators. The nature of this response is variable, with animals reacting more strongly in situations of increased vulnerability. Our research described here is the first formal study to investigate night-time antipredator behaviour in any species of elephants, Asian or African. We examined the provocative effects of elephant-triggered tiger and leopard growls while elephants attempted to crop-raid. Tigers opportunistically prey on elephant calves, whereas leopards pose no threat; therefore, we predicted that the elephant response would be reflective of this difference. Elephants reacted similarly cautiously to the simulated presence of felids of both species by eventually moving away, but differed markedly in their more immediate behavioural responses. Elephants retreated silently to tiger-growl playbacks, whereas they responded with aggressive vocalizations, such as trumpets and grunts, to leopard-growl playbacks. Elephants also lingered in the area and displayed alert or investigative behaviours in response to leopard growls when compared with tiger growls. We anticipate that the methods outlined here will promote further study of elephant antipredator behaviour in a naturalistic context, with applications for conservation efforts as well.
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Wilson, Scott, Tammy E. Davies, Nandita Hazarika, and Alexandra Zimmermann. "Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of human–elephant conflict in Assam, India." Oryx 49, no. 1 (November 7, 2013): 140–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605313000513.
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AbstractLarge-scale forest encroachment in Assam, India, has led to increasing levels of human–elephant conflict. Conflict mitigation is a priority for the survival of Asian elephants Elephas maximus throughout Asia. We analysed a 3-year dataset of elephant occurrence and related instances of human–elephant conflict, from two sites in Assam, and explored the relationships between the various effects of elephants on human communities and factors influencing the spatial and temporal occurrence of these effects (proximity to water, refuge areas and villages, and human and crop density). The landscapes at both study sites have been transformed by forest loss, with large areas converted to agriculture. Remaining forest patches, which are mostly small, disconnected and degraded, as well as tea plantations, provide refuge areas for elephants as they move through the region. We found that crop depredation and property damage caused by elephants showed well-defined seasonal trends. They also showed a clear diurnal pattern, mostly occurring between 18.00 and 22.00. Small communities within 700 m of a refuge were most affected. In the management of human–elephant conflict in Assam we need to consider the refuge patches used by elephants as they move through the region, the peripheries of which are likely to be conflict hotspots. Small villages on the edges of refuges should be a priority for conflict mitigation assistance, with strategies taking into account seasonal and diurnal variation in elephant behaviour, as well as the socio-economic and cultural composition of communities.
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Pant, Ganesh, Maheshwar Dhakal, Narendra Man Babu Pradhan, Fiona Leverington, and Marc Hockings. "Nature and extent of human–elephant Elephas maximus conflict in central Nepal." Oryx 50, no. 4 (July 6, 2015): 724–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605315000381.
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AbstractHuman–elephant conflict is one of the main threats to the long-term survival of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus. We studied the nature and extent of human–elephant interactions in the buffer zones of Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, through household questionnaire surveys, key informant interviews, site observations, and analysis of the reported cases of damage during January 2008–December 2012. During this 5-year period 290 incidents of damage by elephants were reported, with a high concentration of incidents in a few locations. Property damage (53%) was the most common type of damage reported. Crop damage was reported less often but household surveys revealed it to be the most frequent form of conflict. There were also human casualties, including 21 deaths and four serious injuries. More than 90% of the human casualties occurred during 2010–2012. More than two thirds of the respondents (70%) perceived that human–elephant conflict had increased substantially during the previous 5 years. Despite the increase in incidents of human–elephant conflict in the area, 37% of respondents had positive attitudes towards elephant conservation. Our findings suggest that public awareness and compensation for losses could reduce conflict and contribute to ensuring coexistence of people and elephants in this human-dominated landscape.
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Srikulnath, Kornsorn, Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Worapong Singchat, Thitipong Panthum, Artem Lisachov, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Kyudong Han, Narongrit Muangmai, and Prateep Duengkae. "Asian Elephant Evolutionary Relationships: New Perspectives from Mitochondrial D-Loop Haplotype Diversity." Sustainability 15, no. 1 (December 31, 2022): 720. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su15010720.
Full textAbstract:
Mitochondrial displacement loop (mt D-loop) sequence analyses have greatly improved assessments of genetic diversity, structure, and population dynamics of endangered species threatened by climate change and habitat loss. Tracking population haplotypes of these species using mitochondrial-based markers has opened new avenues for conservation genomics and biodiversity research. Recent studies have used mt D-loop sequences to assess the genetic diversity of the largest land mammal in Asia, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), whose populations are rapidly declining. Here, we review haplotype data from mt D-loop sequencing studies and highlight previous population-scale hypotheses pertaining to the origin and diverse genetic profiles of Asian elephants. Retrieving haplotype information from elephant populations can substantially improve estimations of different parameters relevant to their conservation and allow introgression/hybridization dissection of genetic variation to shed light on ongoing evolutionary processes.
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Buranapim, Nithidol, Pawinee Kulnanan, Kullapassorn Chingpathomkul, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Saran Chansitthiwet, Warangkhana Langkaphin, Petthisak Sombutputorn, et al. "Dexmedetomidine Effectively Sedates Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)." Animals 12, no. 20 (October 15, 2022): 2787. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12202787.
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This study investigated the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine in Asian elephants. We hypothesized that 2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine would provide sufficient standing sedation. A crossover design study was performed in three Asian elephants. Each elephant was assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups—1 (D1), 1.5 (D1.5) or 2 (D2) µg/kg dexmedetomidine (intramuscular injection, IM) with a two-week ‘washout period’ between doses. Elephants were monitored for 120 min. At 120 min (Ta), atipamezole was administered IM. Sedation and responsiveness scores were evaluated. Physiological parameters (pulse rate, respiratory rate, and %SpO2) and clinical observations were monitored during the study and for 3 days post drug administration. D2 provided the longest sedation (approximately 70 min), compared to D1 and D1.5. After Ta, each elephant’s sedative stage lessened within 10–15 min without complications. No significant abnormal clinical observations were noted throughout and during the 3-days post study period. These data suggest that a single 2 µg/kg IM dexmedetomidine injection provides sufficient standing sedation for approximately 70 min in Asian elephants.
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Phuphisut, O., W. Maipanich, S. Pubampen, M. Yindee, N. Kosoltanapiwat, S. Nuamtanong, A. Ponlawat, and P. Adisakwattana. "Molecular identification of the strongyloid nematode Oesophagostomum aculeatum in the Asian wild elephant Elephas maximus." Journal of Helminthology 90, no. 4 (July 27, 2015): 434–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x15000541.
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AbstractThe transmission of zoonoses by wildlife, including elephants, is a growing global concern. In this study, we screened for helminth infections among Asian wild elephants (Elephas maximus) of the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Elephant faecal samples (45) were collected from the sanctuary grounds during January through November 2013 and assayed individually using the tetranucleotide microsatellite technique. Microscopic examination indicated a high prevalence of strongylids (93.0%) and low prevalences of trichurids (2.3%) and ascarids (2.3%). To identify the strongylid species, small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences were amplified from copro-DNA and compared with sequences in GenBank. The generated SSU-rDNA sequences comprised five distinct haplotypes that were closely related to Oesophagostomum aculeatum. A phylogenetic analysis that incorporated related nematodes yielded a tree separated into two main clades, one containing our samples and human and domestic animal hookworms and the other consisting of Strongyloides. The present results indicate that O. aculeatum in local elephants is a potential source of helminthiasis in human and domestic animals in this wild-elephant irrupted area.
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Lin, Xijie, Duo Yin, Quan Gao, Xinhua Qi, Yu Cheng, and Boming Zheng. "Extending the Behavioral Geography within the Context of Forest Restoration: Research on the Geographical Behaviors of Northern-Migrating Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Southwest China." Forests 14, no. 1 (January 10, 2023): 122. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f14010122.
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In 2021, the northward migration of Asian elephants in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province attracted significant public attention. Exploring the behavior of Asian elephants will help to better protect this endangered species and further realize the harmonious coexistence of humans and elephants. Based on the news texts regarding the northward migration of Asian elephants, this study used network text analysis, social network analysis, and grounded theoretical research methods to explore the behavioral characteristics and internal motivations of Asian elephants during their northward migration. The results indicate that: (1) during the northward migration of Asian elephants, moving and foraging are their most frequent behaviors, and foraging may be the chief purpose of the migration. (2) Different behaviors of Asian elephants hide their behavioral choice preferences, including environmental, time, and behavioral preferences. During the migration, Asian elephants mostly move in low-altitude areas, often foraging or migrating around farmland in the afternoon or at night, returning to the mountains to rest in the early morning. Corn, rice, and other crops are their primary food; the change in their eating habits is influenced by the lack of herbs and woody plants inside the protected area. (3) The northward migration behavior of elephant herds is influenced by various factors, such as elephant population expansion, habitat change, and species migration characteristics, and the relationship between conservation and development needs to be balanced.
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Fuchs, Evelyn, Veronika C. Beeck, Anton Baotic, and Angela S. Stoeger. "Acoustic structure and information content of trumpets in female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)." PLOS ONE 16, no. 11 (November 23, 2021): e0260284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260284.
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Most studies on elephant vocal communication have focused on the low-frequency rumble, with less effort on other vocalization types such as the most characteristic elephant call, the trumpet. Yet, a better and more complete understanding of the elephant vocal system requires investigating other vocalization types and their functioning in more detail as well. We recorded adult female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at a private facility in Nepal and analyzed 206 trumpets from six individuals regarding their frequency, temporal and contour shape, and related acoustic parameters of the fundamental frequency. We also tested for information content regarding individuality and context. Finally, we recorded the occurrence of non-linear phenomena such as bifurcation, biphonation, subharmonics and deterministic chaos. We documented a mean fundamental frequency ± SD of 474 ± 70 Hz and a mean duration ± SD of 1.38 ± 1.46 s (Nindiv. = 6, Ncalls = 206). Our study reveals that the contour of the fundamental frequency of trumpets encodes information about individuality, but we found no evidence for trumpet subtypes in greeting versus disturbance contexts. Non-linear phenomena prevailed and varied in abundance among individuals, suggesting that irregularities in trumpets might enhance the potential for individual recognition. We propose that trumpets in adult female Asian elephants serve to convey an individual’s identity as well as to signal arousal and excitement to conspecifics.
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Guntawang, Thunyamas, Tidaratt Sittisak, Pallop Tankaew, Chatchote Thitaram, Varangkana Langkapin, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Tawatchai Singhla, et al. "Development of Nonstructural Protein-Based Indirect ELISA to Identify Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) Infection in Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)." Animals 12, no. 14 (July 7, 2022): 1747. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12141747.
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Disease caused by elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection is the most highly fatal hemorrhagic disease in Asian elephant calves worldwide. To date, adult elephants that have been infected with EEHV have predominantly displayed mild clinical signs, while they are believed to serve as EEHV shedders to other elephants. Hence, the diagnostic tools employed for monitoring EEHV-active infection are considered vitally important. In this study, partial EEHV-DNA polymerase (DNApol) nonstructural proteins (NSPs) were used to detect anti-EEHV antibodies through the use of an in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were then compared to those obtained from a PCR test. In this study, a total of 175 serum samples were collected from Asian elephants living in elephant camps located in Chiang Mai and Lampang Provinces, Thailand. The elephants were aged between 2 and 80 years old. The overall percentages of positive samples by the PCR and EEHV-DNApol ELISA tests were 4% (21/175) and 12% (21/175), respectively. The ELISAs demonstrated values of 77.9% (95% posterior probability interval (PPI) = 52.5–95%) sensitivity and 87.7% (PPI = 82.5–91.9%) specificity, respectively. Accordingly, the sera obtained from the elephants exhibiting no clinical signs of EEHV infection, and those who were negative according to PCR tests, revealed a value of 14% seropositivity for EEHV-DNApol. Our results indicate that these asymptomatic, active EEHV-infected elephants could likely serve as a source of EEHV shedding within elephant herds. Consequently, the developed EEHV-DNApol NSPs-based ELISA test employed in the present study may be of use for routine monitoring and identification of EEHV shedders in elephant herds, and could be an alternative diagnostic tool for EEHV detection in Asian elephants.
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Shahi, M. K., and K. P. Gairhe. "Prevalence of Helminths in Wild Asian Elephant and Indian Rhinoceros in Chitwan and Bardia National Park, Nepal." Nepalese Veterinary Journal 36 (December 1, 2019): 60–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nvj.v36i0.27755.
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The Nepalese elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) and rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), are an important part of Nepal’s heritage, culture and wildlife conservation. Despite its importance, not much is known about the helminth parasites that affect elephant and rhinoceros. This study investigates the prevalence of helminth parasites in wild Asian Elephant and wild Indian Rhinoceros.A study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 to screen helminth parasites of wild asian elephant and wild Indian Rhinoceros at Chitwan and Bardia National Park of Nepal. Total of 80 samples, 40 each taken from the Wild Asian Elephants and Indian Rhinoceros. The study showed 88.75% overall prevalence of helminthes. The prevalence in Wild Asian Elephant and Indian Rhinoceros was 95% and 82.5% respectively. 97.37% and 72.73% infection were mixed infections in elephant and rhinoceros respectively.Among 38 positive samples of the elephant of CNP and BNP, 9 different types of helminth eggs were found. 15 (39.47%) were positive for Fasciola Spp. With 450 EPG count, 11 (28.95%) for Paramphistomum spp. with 600 EPG, 27 (71.05%) for Schistosoma spp. with 500 EPG, 3 (7.89%) for Dicrocoelium spp. with 900 EPG, 12 (30.16%) for Moniezia spp. with 433.3 EPG, 17 (44.74%) for Oesophagostomum spp. with 1025 EPG, 10 (26.31%) for Chabartia spp. with 1141.65 EPG, 17 (44.74) for Strongyloides spp. with 15558.335 EPG and 23 (60.53%) for Strongylus spp. with 1700 EPG.Similarly out of the 33 positive samples of Rhinoceros of CNP and BNP, 8 different types of helminth eggs were found. 11 (33.33%) were positive for Fasciola Spp. With 558.34 EPG, 10 (30.30%) for Paramphistomum spp. with 525 EPG, 7 (21.21%) for Schistosoma spp. with 475 EPG, 4 (12.12%) for Moniezia spp. with 650 EPG, 6 (18.18%) for Strongyloides spp. with 1466.67 EPG, 4 (12.12%) for Strongylus spp. with 1625 EPG, 9 (27.27%) for Toxocara spp. with 699.98 EPG and 20 (60.61%) for Trychostrongylus spp. with 1149.98 were found to be positive.
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Santiapillai, Charles, Ajith Silva, Champika Karyawasam, Shameema Esufali, Salila Jayaniththi, Mano Basnayake, Vasantha Unantenne, and S. Wijeyamohan. "Trade in Asian elephant ivory in Sri Lanka." Oryx 33, no. 2 (April 1999): 176–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.1999.00041.x.
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AbstractElephants Elephas maximus have declined in range and number in the wild in Sri Lanka, from c. 12,000 at the turn of the nineteenth century to c. 4000 today. While in the distant past the decline in elephant numbers was due largely to indiscriminate killing by sportsmen and trophy hunters, today elephants are being killed primarily because they interfere with agriculture. Human-elephant conflicts have increased substantially in the recent past and ivory poaching has become a byproduct of such conflicts. Elephant tusks have been used traditionally in the ivory-carving industry in Sri Lanka since the time of the ancient kings. Until the turn of the century, very little ivory was imported from Africa because there was a plentiful supply of tuskers locally available. Sri Lankan ivory carvers started to use African ivory in 1910. Today ivory and fake-ivory products are sold openly to tourists in some 86 shops in the island. Before the listing of the African elephant in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the value of raw ivory in Sri Lanka used to be $US228–285 per kg. After the listing, the price fell to $US72 per kg, reflecting a drastic drop in the demand for ivory from tourists. Many ivory carvers have switched to other jobs or are using substitutes (such as bone and horn) to produce fake-ivory carvings. Only about 7.5 per cent of bulls in Sri Lanka are tuskers and they are under poaching pressure outside protected areas. Given the rarity of tuskers in Sri Lanka, promotion of trade in ivory products, even locally, may pose a serious threat to their long-term survival in the wild.
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Yang, Nian, Mingwei Bao, Biru Zhu, Qingzhong Shen, Xianming Guo, Wenwen Li, Ruchun Tang, et al. "Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus 1, 4 and 5 in China: Occurrence in Multiple Sample Types and Implications for Wild and Captive Population Surveillance." Viruses 14, no. 2 (February 17, 2022): 411. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v14020411.
Full textAbstract:
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) are important causes of death in both captive and wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Nothing is known about the prevalence of EEHVs in wild or domestic elephants in China. To determine if EEHVs are present in elephants in China, 126 wild elephants from three populations and 202 captive individuals from zoos (n = 155) and the Wild Elephant Valley (n = 47) were screened using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction assays with EEHV-redundant and EEHV1/4/5-specific primers. EEHV1B and EEHV4 were detected in samples from both wild (EEHV1B:8/126; EEHV4:2/126) and captive (EEHV1B:5/155; EEHV4:9/155) elephants, while EEHV1A (six cases) and EEHV5 (one case) were only present in the captive elephants from the Wild Elephant Valley. EEHV1 was detected in blood and trunk and oral swabs; EEHV4 was detected in trunk and oral swabs as well as feces; EEHV5 was found in trunk and oral swabs. No significant age or sex association with EEHV1A, EEHV1B, or EEHV5 positivity was observed. An age association with EEHV4 positivity was found, with all unweaned elephants being EEHV4 positive, but an association with the sex of the elephant was not observed. These findings represent the first documentation of EEHV presence in captive and wild elephants in China. These findings also document EEHV1B and EEHV4 shedding in feces and demonstrate the utility of fecal screening as a tool for investigating EEHV4 infection in wild populations of elephants. It is recommended that EEHV testing be included in surveillance programs for captive and wild elephants in China.
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Htet, Nyi Nyi Phyo, Rattanawat Chaiyarat, Nikorn Thongthip, Panat Anuracpreeda, Namphung Youngpoy, and Phonlugsamee Chompoopong. "Population and distribution of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand." PeerJ 9 (July 29, 2021): e11896. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11896.
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Background The populations of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) have increased recently after a period of worldwide decline in protected areas. It is important to understand the dynamics and distribution of the remaining populations to ensure their conservation and prevent human-elephant conflicts. Methods We monitored the population distribution of elephants between 2016 and 2019 in the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We set one hundred forty-nine camera trap locations; cameras recorded 38,834 photos over 6,896 trap nights. Elephants were captured in 4,319 photographs. The maximum entropy modeling software MaxEntwas used to identify elephants’ habitat preferences within 49 of the 149 total camera trap locations according to five environmental factors. Results One hundred fourteen elephants were identified. We identified 30 adult males, 43 adult females, 14 sub-adult males, nine sub-adult females, 11 juveniles, and seven calves. The age structure ratio based on adult femaleswas 0.7:1:0.3:0.2:0.3:0.2, and the ratio of reproductive ability between adult females, juveniles, and calves was 1:0.2:0.1. A suitable elephant habitat was determined to be 1,288.9 km2 using Area Under the Curve (AUC). An AUC = 0.061 indicated good performance. Our model classified habitat preferences associated with elevation, forests, salt licks, human activity, and slope. Conclusions According to our probability map this sanctuary can provide a suitable habitat for elephants. Our results indicate that effective management practices can protect wild Asian elephants in the region and reduce conflict between humans and elephants.
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Smith, James L. David, and Hemanta R. Mishra. "Status and distribution of Asian elephants in Central Nepal." Oryx 26, no. 1 (January 1992): 34–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605300023206.
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Wild elephants currently occur in three populations in the lowlands of Nepal. The eastern and western animals are part of larger populations that extend into India; the central population, estimated to be 21 individuals, is geographically isolated from the other two and confined within Nepal's borders. Tracks of young elephants observed in 1979 and 1989 indicate that reproduction occurs on a regular basis. The present reserve system provides good cover and an excellent food base; the potential for population increase is good. Nepal needs to develop policy to handle human/elephant conflicts so that public support for protection of elephant populations can be maintained.
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Webb, Jonathan L., Jennie A. H. Crawley, Martin W. Seltmann, Océane Liehrmann, Nicola Hemmings, U. Kyaw Nyein, Htoo Htoo Aung, Win Htut, Virpi Lummaa, and Mirkka Lahdenperä. "Evaluating the Reliability of Non-Specialist Observers in the Behavioural Assessment of Semi-Captive Asian Elephant Welfare." Animals 10, no. 1 (January 18, 2020): 167. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10010167.
Full textAbstract:
Recognising stress is an important component in maintaining the welfare of captive animal populations, and behavioural observation provides a rapid and non-invasive method to do this. Despite substantial testing in zoo elephants, there has been relatively little interest in the application of behavioural assessments to the much larger working populations of Asian elephants across Southeast Asia, which are managed by workers possessing a broad range of behavioural knowledge. Here, we developed a new ethogram of potential stress- and work-related behaviour for a semi-captive population of Asian elephants. We then used this to collect observations from video footage of over 100 elephants and evaluated the reliability of behavioural welfare assessments carried out by non-specialist observers. From observations carried out by different raters with no prior experience of elephant research or management, we tested the reliability of observations between-observers, to assess the general inter-observer agreement, and within-observers, to assess the consistency in behaviour identification. The majority of ethogram behaviours were highly reliable both between- and within-observers, suggesting that overall, behaviour was highly objective and could represent easily recognisable markers for behavioural assessments. Finally, we analysed the repeatability of individual elephant behaviour across behavioural contexts, demonstrating the importance of incorporating a personality element in welfare assessments. Our findings highlight the potential of non-expert observers to contribute to the reliable monitoring of Asian elephant welfare across large captive working populations, which may help to both improve elephant wellbeing and safeguard human workers.
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Saaban, Salman, Mohd Nawayai Yasak, Melvin Gumal, Aris Oziar, Francis Cheong, Zaleha Shaari, Martin Tyson, and Simon Hedges. "Viability and management of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population in the Endau Rompin landscape, Peninsular Malaysia." PeerJ 8 (January 24, 2020): e8209. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8209.
Full textAbstract:
The need for conservation scientists to produce research of greater relevance to practitioners is now increasingly recognized. This study provides an example of scientists working alongside practitioners and policy makers to address a question of immediate relevance to elephant conservation in Malaysia and using the results to inform wildlife management policy and practice including the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan for Peninsular Malaysia. Since ensuring effective conservation of elephants in the Endau Rompin Landscape (ERL) in Peninsular Malaysia is difficult without data on population parameters we (1) conducted a survey to assess the size of the elephant population, (2) used that information to assess the viability of the population under different management scenarios including translocation of elephants out of the ERL (a technique long used in Malaysia to mitigate human–elephant conflict (HEC)), and (3) assessed a number of options for managing the elephant population and HEC in the future. Our dung-count based survey in the ERL produced an estimate of 135 (95% CI [80–225]) elephants in the 2,500 km2 area. The population is thus of national significance, containing possibly the second largest elephant population in Peninsular Malaysia, and with effective management elephant numbers could probably double. We used the data from our survey plus other sources to conduct a population viability analysis to assess relative extinction risk under different management scenarios. Our results demonstrate that the population cannot sustain even very low levels of removal for translocation or anything other than occasional poaching. We describe, therefore, an alternative approach, informed by this analysis, which focuses on in situ management and non-translocation-based methods for preventing or mitigating HEC. The recommended approach includes an increase in law enforcement to protect the elephants and their habitat, maintenance of habitat connectivity between the ERL and other elephant habitat, and a new focus on adaptive management.
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Costa, Taiana, Guido Rocchigiani, Flavia Zendri, Gabby Drake, Javier Lopez, Julian Chantrey, and Emanuele Ricci. "Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus 4 and Clostridium perfringens Type C Fatal Co-Infection in an Adult Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)." Animals 12, no. 3 (January 31, 2022): 349. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12030349.
Full textAbstract:
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) is an acute, often fatal, multisystemic hemorrhagic disease and one of the most significant causes of mortality of Asian elephants in captivity. Most fatal cases of EEHV-HD are associated with EEHV1A and EEHV1B in juveniles. This case report describes the clinical and pathological features of a fatal co-infection of Clostridium perfringens type C and EEHV-HD, caused by EEHV4, in an adult female Asian elephant. Although fatal clostridial enterotoxemia has been occasionally reported in elephants, this report highlights the importance of having both EEHV-HD and clostridial enterotoxemia as potential differential diagnoses in cases of widespread tissue necrosis and internal hemorrhage in elephants, regardless of the animal age group, due to their macroscopic similarities, frequent co-occurrence and cumulative morbid potential.
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Neupane, Sandesh, Man Kumar Dhamala, and Prakash Chandra Aryal. "Human elephant conflict management and issues in Nepalese context: A Review." Nepal Journal of Environmental Science 6 (December 31, 2018): 69–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njes.v6i0.30128.
Full textAbstract:
Human Elephant Conflict has been an important conservation issue since decades in Africa and Asia. A comparative analysis was performed to identify the methods of the Human Wildlife Conflict management in African and Asian countries. Different studies from 1999 to 2018 in African and Asian Nations related to Human Elephant Conflict were obtained from reliable online sources such as published articles, policies and reports relevant to Nepalese context were synthesized. The different methods used in Human Elephant Conflict management in both continents were broadly classified into fifteen different categories and their effectiveness was compared based on economic viability, safety for elephants and humans while adopting the mitigation measures and the control of the Human Elephant Conflict after adoption of the measure. Land-use management is proposed in Nepalese context to reduce the Human Elephant Conflict centered on different social, financial and environmental conditions.
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Bauer, Kendra L., Erin Latimer, and Mitch Finnegan. "Long-term, intermittent, low-level elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A viremia in a captive Asian elephant calf." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 30, no. 6 (September 28, 2018): 917–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1040638718803138.
Full textAbstract:
A 2-y-old male Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus), with an elevated platelet count (1,100 × 109/L [1,100 × 103/mm3]), tested positive for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A (EEHV-1A) on conventional PCR (cPCR) of EDTA whole blood. No clinical signs were ever reported and no treatment was administered, but low-level viremia persisted for 2.5 y based on results of cPCR and/or real-time PCR (rtPCR). Sequencing confirmed that the EEHV-1A detected was identical at the beginning through the end of the time period. No other elephants in the herd tested positive for EEHV-1 during this time period. Platelet counts remained elevated throughout the viremia and throughout the animal’s life, and direct correlation between the elevated platelet counts and EEHV-1A viremia could not be confirmed. We document long-term, intermittent, low-level viremia of EEHV-1A and provide additional information to consider when determining if treatment is warranted in a case of EEHV infection.
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Plangsangmas, Tithipong, Janine L. Brown, Chatchote Thitaram, Ayona Silva-Fletcher, Katie L. Edwards, Veerasak Punyapornwithaya, Patcharapa Towiboon, and Chaleamchat Somgird. "Circadian Rhythm of Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Associations with Cortisol as A Stress Biomarker in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)." Animals 10, no. 1 (January 17, 2020): 157. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10010157.
Full textAbstract:
Salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) has been proposed as a potential indicator of welfare for various species, including Asian elephants, and may be related to adrenal cortisol responses. This study aimed to distinguish circadian rhythm effects on sIgA in male and female Asian elephants and compare patterns to those of salivary cortisol, information that could potentially have welfare implications. Subjects were captive elephants at an elephant camp in Chiang Mai province, Thailand (n = 5 males, 5 females). Salivette® kits were used to collect saliva from each elephant every 4 h from 06:00 to 22:00 h for 3 consecutive days (n = 15 samples/elephant). Enzyme immunoassays were used to quantify concentrations of IgA and cortisol in unextracted saliva. Circadian rhythm patterns were determined using a generalized least-squares method. Both sIgA and cortisol followed a circadian rhythm, although the patterns differed. sIgA displayed a daily quartic trend, whereas cortisol concentrations demonstrated a decreasing linear trend in concentrations throughout the day. There was no clear relationship between patterns of sIgA and salivary cortisol, implying that mechanisms of control and secretion differ. Results demonstrate for the first time that circadian rhythms affect sIgA, and concentrations follow a daily quartic pattern in Asian elephants, so standardizing time of collection is necessary.
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Chaiyarat, Rattanawat, Maneepailin Wettasin, Namphung Youngpoy, and Navee Cheachean. "Use of Human Dominated Landscape as Connectivity Corridors among Fragmented Habitats for Wild Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in the Eastern Part of Thailand." Diversity 15, no. 1 (December 21, 2022): 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15010006.
Full textAbstract:
Habitat fragmentation due to human activities creates threats to wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and increases human-elephant conflicts (HEC). This study analyzed connectivity maps among the core habitats of wild elephants in the eastern part of Thailand. Resistance surfaces, associated with geographic and land use features, were used to estimate the dispersal of wild elephants. An increase in roads, reservoirs, and agricultural areas in 2020 was noted. In addition, the increase of artificial water sources and roads has increased HEC. To reduce HEC, the study of suitable landscape corridors for wild Asian elephants can guide the development of effective connectivity among the habitat patches. The scattered locations of reserved forests induce wild elephants to enter agricultural areas. In 2020, during the dry season, wild elephants used 3552 habitat patches, 253 population patches (4875 km2), 8 breeding patches (68.1 km2), and 253 other patches (193.9 km2). However, habitat patches were reduced to 1961 patches (3850.9 km2) in the wet season. The 16 suitable corridors were recommended for connecting the finest wild Asian elephants. These suitable corridors can be used as a guideline to construct effective landscape corridors for wild Asian elephants’ movement among the habitat patches. This finding can help the local managers and villagers incorporate and design restoration areas for the movement and survival of wild Asian elephants and develop suitable areas for agricultural purposes.
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Huang, Cheng, Xueyou Li, Laxman Khanal, and Xuelong Jiang. "Habitat suitability and connectivity inform a co-management policy of protected area network for Asian elephants in China." PeerJ 7 (April 19, 2019): e6791. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6791.
Full textAbstract:
Enlarging protected area networks (PANs) is critical to ensure the long-term population viability of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), which are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. Strict policies of PAN enlargement that focus on wildlife conservation have failed largely due to difficulties in encouraging stakeholder participation and meeting the elephant habitat requirement. A co-management policy that promotes sustainable resource use, wildlife conservation, and stakeholder participation may have greater feasibility than the strict policies in a developing world. Here, we identified the suitable habitat of elephants using maximum entropy models and examined whether habitat suitability is indirectly associated with local economic development in human-dominated landscapes. We found that (1) the suitable habitat was mainly in areas of forest matrix (50% natural forest cover) with multiple land-use practices rather than relatively intact forest and near communities (mean distance two km) and (2) habitat suitability was negatively associated with local economic development (rP = −0.37, P = 0.04). From the standpoint of elephant habitat and its socio-economic background, our results indicate that co-management will be more effective than the currently strict approaches of enlarging PAN. Additionally, our results provide on-ground information for elephant corridor design in southern China.
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Hoornweg, Tabitha E., Willem Schaftenaar, Gilles Maurer, Petra B. van den Doel, Fieke M. Molenaar, Alexandre Chamouard-Galante, Francis Vercammen, Victor P. M. G. Rutten, and Cornelis A. M. de Haan. "Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus Is Omnipresent in Elephants in European Zoos and an Asian Elephant Range Country." Viruses 13, no. 2 (February 11, 2021): 283. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v13020283.
Full textAbstract:
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) may cause acute, often lethal, hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) in young elephants. Prevalence of EEHV in different elephant populations is still largely unknown. In order to improve diagnostic tools for the detection of EEHV infections and to obtain insight into its spread among elephants, we developed novel ELISAs based on EEHV1A gB and gH/gL. Performance of the ELISAs was assessed using sera from 41 European zoo elephants and 69 semi-captive elephants from Laos, one of the Asian elephant range countries. Sera from all (sub)adult animals tested (≥5 years of age) showed high reactivity with both gB and gH/gL, indicating that EEHV prevalence has been highly underestimated so far. Reactivity towards the antigens was generally lower for sera of juvenile animals (1 > 5 years). Only one (juvenile) animal, which was sampled directly after succumbing to EEHV-HD, was found to be seronegative for EEHV. The two other EEHV-HD cases tested showed low antibody levels, suggesting that all three cases died upon a primary EEHV infection. In conclusion, our study suggests that essentially all (semi-)captive (sub)adult elephants in European zoos and in Laos carry EEHV, and that young elephants with low antibody levels are at risk of dying from EEHV-HD.