Elephas maximus | Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals

Taxa
Elephas maximus | Linnaeus, 1758
Publication
Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals
NRL Record ID
327687
Location
Countries in Assessment
Bangladesh
Country ISO code(s)
BGD
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatra), Lao PDR, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah), Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. Regionally extinct from Pakistan (Sukumar 2003). The present distribution range is restricted to the hilly areas of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeastern region of Bangladesh. In addition to few small migratory herds it seasonally occurs in some parts of Sylhet ( Rema-Kalenga), Sherpur and Netrokona districts in the north and northeastern area (Khan 1982).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Asian Elephants are generalists and they occur in grassland, tropical evergreen forest, mixed evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous forested and dry thorn forest in addition to cultivated and secondary forests and scrublands. Asian Elephants are social animals and live in herds. They feed on grass and other vegetations but also raid crops. Senses of smell and hearing are well developed (Islam et al. 1999, IUCN Bangladesh 2000, Khan 1980, 1985, 1987).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes, in the publication/on website
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Critically Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
CR
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has been categorized as Critically Endangered in view of the number of mature individuals being less than 250 and population decline is continuing due to habitat destruction. Also its populations are heavily fragmented and there is very little or no genetic exchanges between two neighbouring populations. Severe human-elephant conflict and poaching are also contributing to this population decline.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2015
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Anisuzzaman Khan
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
NGO
Academic
Assessor affiliation specific
Academic|NGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32pp; IUCN (2012) Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
http://iucnredlistbd.org/
Endemism
Endemic to region
No
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: No
Conservation
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
Critically Endangered in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Elephas maximus Animalia Chordata Mammalia Proboscidea Elephantidae Elephas