Group Dynamics of Young Asian Elephant Bulls (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) in Heidelberg Zoo – Integration of a Newcomer in an Established Herd

Abstract The Asian elephant Elephas maximus is at risk of extinction as a result of anthropogenic pressures, and remaining populations are often small and fragmented remnants, occupying a fraction of the species' former range. Once widely distributed across China, only a maximum of 245 elephants are estimated to survive across seven small populations. We assessed the Asian elephant population in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve in Lincang Prefecture, China, using camera traps during May–July 2017, to estimate the population size and structure of this genetically important population. Although detection probability was low (0.31), we estimated a total population size of c. 20 individuals, and an effective density of 0.39 elephants per km2. Social structure indicated a strong sex ratio bias towards females, with only one adult male detected within the population. Most of the elephants associated as one herd but three adult females remained separate from the herd throughout the trapping period. These results highlight the fragility of remnant elephant populations such as Nangunhe and we suggest options such as a managed metapopulation approach for their continued survival in China and more widely.

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Acute and Fatal Herpesvirus Infection in a Young Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/030098589002700212 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 131-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

P. Ossent ◽

F. Guscetti ◽

A. E. Metzler ◽

E. M. Lang ◽

A. Rübel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Asian Elephant ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Herpesvirus Infection

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SUPRESSION OF TESTICULAR FUNCTION IN A MALE ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS) TREATED WITH GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE VACCINES

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine ◽

10.1638/2013-0233r.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 611-619 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Imke Lueders ◽

Thomas Bernd Hildebrandt ◽

Charles Gray ◽

Stephan Botha ◽

Peter Rich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽

Asian Elephant ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Testicular Function ◽

Releasing Hormone

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Some Preliminary Evidence of the Social Facilitation of Mounting Behavior in a Juvenile Bull Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science ◽

10.1207/s15327604jaws0701_3 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 49-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Paul A. Rees

Keyword(s):

Social Facilitation ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Asian Elephant ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

The Social

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The efficacy of interventions to protect crops from raiding elephants

AMBIO ◽

10.1007/s13280-021-01587-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Robert A. Montgomery ◽

Jamie Raupp ◽

Methodius Mukhwana ◽

Ashley Greenleaf ◽

Tutilo Mudumba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Asian Elephant ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Extensive Review ◽

Crop Raiding ◽

African Elephants ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

Raiding Behavior ◽

Farmer Livelihoods ◽

Chili Peppers

AbstractBoth African elephants (Loxodonta spp.) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) across their range come into conflict with people because of their crop-raiding behavior, which presents profound impediments to farmer livelihoods. In response, a series of interventions, designed to reduce elephant crop raiding have been applied. Based on an extensive review of elephant crop-raiding studies published over a 31-year period, we identified four primary categories of interventions including: (i) detection efforts; (ii) preemptive measures; (iii) fencing and trenches; and (iv) deterrent techniques. The interventions reported to be most effective involved chili peppers (i.e., fences, spray, and briquettes) and crop guarding coupled with deterrents. The extent to which these interventions can be applied more widely is unclear as only two studies examined efficacy across sites in more than one country. Thus, future inquiry should evaluate the ability of effective interventions, or indeed a combination of interventions, to be applied across the range of elephants to reduce crop raiding at scale.

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