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Asian Elephant Elephas maximus

Key characteristics

The Asian Elephant is the largest land mammal in Asia. They are extremely sociable animals – forming groups of six-seven females, led by the matriarch – and spend a large proportion of their day feeding on grasses, roots, leaves, bark and stems. Their favourite foods are cultivated crops such as bananas, rice and sugarcane, which often brings them into direct conflict with local farmers.

Threats

Despite having the highest level of protection in India, the Asian Elephant’s survival is threatened by the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of natural forests as well as the ongoing issues of ivory poaching and interactions with people.

What A Rocha is doing

Bannerghatta National Park is dry deciduous scrub forest, a key habitat for the Asian Elephant. Because the park lies just outside Bangalore, the sprawling growth of the city is increasing interactions between people and elephants – with casualties on both sides – as elephants leave the forest to seek food in neighbouring farmland.

A Rocha India runs ecology camps for local schools, organizes public talks in the city and trains new forest guards. In addition, A Rocha India is examining the farmers’ use of the landscape to get a clearer understanding of the interactions between people and wildlife, and developing creative ideas – such as elephant-proof barriers – to help address them.