Large numbers of Asian Elephants were once found in the forests and jungles of India, Northern China, SE Asia and the islands of Indonesia. Today, they are more endangered than the African Elephant with the population in the wild declining from an estimated 200,000 at the end of the last century to less than 40,000 today. Loss of habitat and deforestation continue to threaten existing populations, however the extraction and trade in wild caught elephants from India, Myanmar and Thailand now seriously threatens the last remaining populations in SE Asia.

Elephants are also brutally slaughtered for their ivory tusks to supply the international ivory market, especially Japan and the Vatican, the world's largest ivory consuming countries. In 1989, The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) introduced an international ban on all ivory trade. But whilst the ban has had a noticeable impact, especially in the US and Europe, in Asia awareness of the problems caused by the ivory trade is less widespread and loopholes in national legislation enable ivory products to continue to be sold openly at major hotels and tourist markets throughout Asia.


Male Asian elephant.


Female Asian elephant.


Urban jungle. Elephants are often brought to beg in urban centers throughout Asia. Photo: Brent Lewin


Elephant's are highly intelligent and emotional. Copyright 2011©Adam Oswell


Nepal. Large hunt of wild Asian elephants for the king of Nepal, circa early 1900's.


 Motala. Landmine victim. Copyright 2011©Adam Oswell