ASIAN ELEPHANTS - ENDANGERED
It is estimated that at the beginning of the 20th century there may have been more than 100,000 Asian elephants in the wild, however numbers have fallen by at least 50% over the last three generations, and they are still in decline today. Elephants used to roam across most of Asia, but they are now found in just 15% of their original range.
There are a number of factors which have contributed to this population decline, but the most significant of these include habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, poaching and disease.
HABITAT LOSS
In the world's most densely populated continent, it comes as no surprise that the growth of the human population is impacting wild elephants. Large areas of elephant habitat are being lost to make way for an ever growing human population.
Large development projects (such as dams, roads, and mines), agricultural plantations and expanding human settlements have also fragmented elephant habitat. Wild elephant populations are now mostly small, isolated and unable to mingle as their ancient migratory routes are cut off by human populations.
Find out what the World Land Trust are doing to help secure safe habitats for Asian elephants
HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The growing human population is not only causing habitat loss and fragmentation, it is resulting in people and elephants coming into contact much more often – increasing the likelihood of human-elephant conflicts.
Elephants sometimes find themselves in farmers’ fields which can of course damage the crops. This can have a huge impact on the farmers' livelihood and as a result, farmers do sometimes harm or kill elephants in an attempt to protect their fields and families. Experts believe that these confrontations are now the leading cause of elephant deaths in Asia. This conflict causes severe emotional, social and even physical scars for both elephants and humans.
POACHING
Elephant poaching in Asia is not as severe a threat as it is in Africa, however there is still a market for tusks, meat and skin. Asian elephants are also being taken from the wild for the live elephant trade – primarily going to the tourism industry. Unfortunately, crude capture methods have often also led to a high mortality level.
The practice of bringing wild caught elephants into captivity in Europe is thankfully a thing of the past. Project Elephant Base Camp has been purpose built to take part in the European breeding programme for captive Asian elephants.
DISEASE
Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV) is a deadly virus which affects young elephants typically around 2-8 years old, striking elephants both in the wild and in zoos with devastating effects.
Fatal cases of EEHV have been documented on a global scale and drug treatment is effective in just 20% - 30% of cases. Ongoing research is being carried out in zoos around the world, to learn more about the virus and to find ways of improving outcomes for elephants that develop the virus. Since 2019, Chester Zoo have been working with leading scientists to develop the world’s first vaccine for EEHV
Find out what our colleagues at Chester Zoo are doing to support research into a EEHV vaccine
HOW CAN I HELP?
While saving wild Asian elephants might seem like a daunting task, there are a number of small and easy steps you can take to help ensure their survival.
Don't support wildlife trade
As well as simply making the choice to avoid buying products made from ivory or elephant skin, there are steps you can take to report any such items you may come across. You can also make sure you avoid any tourist activities which involve direct contact with animals in the wild, as these behaviours are unnatural for the animals.
Help protect their habitats
Deforestation is a big contributor to elephant habitat loss, so make sensible choices around how much paper you use and where that paper comes from. Bornean elephants are also at risk from habitat loss due to unsustainable palm oil plantations, so making sensible palm oil choices can help eliminate the threat.
Donate
We work with a number of animal conservation projects around the world, including the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF). STEF provides free veterinary care to Asian elephants across Southern Thailand, operating from a veterinary centre and mobile clinic. Through their Education Centre, STEF are also training future conservationists by delivering educational elephant care workshops.
STEF relies on generous donations to continue to fund their vital work.
We have several donation points around the zoo, including at Project Elephant Base Camp. If you aren’t visiting but would still like to donate, you can do so here.
Visit the zoo
As the great Sir David Attenborough once said - "No one will protect what they do not care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced." -so even something as simple as a visit to Blackpool Zoo (or your local zoo) could inspire you to help us secure a future for this magnificent species.
You'll find informational signage throughout Project Elephant Base Camp telling you more about the species, the threats they are facing in the wild and what can be done to help.
Plan your visit to Blackpool Zoo and Project Elephant Base Camp
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Our work supporting conservation projects in the wild is a vital part of our mission. The Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation is a charity made up of a small team of passionate conservationists whom we have had the pleasure to work alongside, helping to supply veterinary equipment for injured elephants. You couldn’t find a more suitable elephant charity to follow and support~ Harry, Conservation Officer
SUPPORTING THE SOUTHERN THAILAND ELEPHANT FOUNDATION
Asian elephants are classified as endangered by the IUCN, and with only 40,000 left in the wild, their future is uncertain. Habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans continue to threaten their survival.
The Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF) is a veterinary charity based in Khok Kloi, Southern Thailand, providing free care to elephants across the region.
As well as providing hands-on veterinary care, from their elephant hospital in Southern Thailand and mobile clinics, STEF also supports education on elephant welfare and conservation. Their aim is to target local communities and international volunteers through hands-on training, workshops and community outreach, increasing knowledge about ethical treatment and high welfare standards for Asian elephants, conservation, encouraging responsible human-elephant interaction, as well as raising awareness of elephants’ cultural role and needs.
STEF also run veterinary volunteer programmes for vets, nurses and students to learn elephant medicine, husbandry and care.
Our first major fundraising event supporting STEF was our Elefest event in 2024, raising over £14,000 for the charity, with over 3,500 visitors attending to learn more about their incredible work.
Keen to learn more? Visit the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation's website