ACTION RESEARCH FOR CONSERVATION OF ASIAN ELEPHANTS IN BANGLADESH: PHASE-I

Project Location: 12 forest divisions under eight districts of Bangladesh
Project Period: 2001-2003
Funded by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

BACKGROUND

The conservation of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximas) is of both national and international significance. It is a ‘Critically Endangered Species’ in Bangladesh, being included in Appendix 1 of the Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and also in the 3rd Schedule of the Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1974. Since 2001, IUCN Bangladesh has taken initiatives to conserve the Asian Elephants in Bangladesh.

The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is the largest critically endangered terrestrial animal in Bangladesh. The major causes of the decline in the wild elephant population in Bangladesh are habitat fragmentation and destruction, expansion of agriculture and human settlement and like. Frequent crop raids and human casualties by the wild Asian elephant in Bangladesh are common, which lead to creating an adverse public reaction with regard to elephant conservation. In the backdrop of the above circumstances, IUCN Bangladesh commissioned and completed Phase-I of the elephant conservation project. The project was financially supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The following were the main objectives of the project:

• Determination of the elephant population size, trends and range
• Identification and prioritization of threats faced by the elephant
• Ascertaining the elephant habitat condition
• Analysis of economic loss and man–elephant conflict
• Conducting awareness programme on elephant conservation
• Elephant management guideline preparation and sharing the same through national workshop.

APPROACHES

• Standard methodologies viz., direct sighting method, indirect sighting method and group count methods were used for elephant census.
• Focus group discussions were held for identification and prioritization of threats to the elephant
• Quadrate sampling method was used for elephant habitat assessment
• Direct field visits were made and focus group discussions held for human-elephant conflict assessment and analysis
• Direct field visits were made and focus group discussions held for economic loss assessment and analysis
• Findings derived from the above interventions were utilised while preparing the elephant management guideline.

ACTIVITIES

Major activities of the project were:

• Field research for elephant census and also trend and range determination
• Focus group discussion and field research for identification of threats to the elephant and prioritization thereof
• Data collection and analysis for elephant habitat assessment
• Data collection and analysis for assessing elephant-caused financial losses
• Data collection and analysis for elephant-human conflict assessment
• Elephant management guideline preparation and sharing the same with the concerned agencies—government and non-government, academicians etc. through a national workshop.

MAJOR FINDINGS

• Census: The total number of elephants in Bangladesh was calculated as follows (a) wild resident elephants (i) 178 (through indirect method) and the mean elephant density was 0.1085 / km2, (ii) 196-227 (through group count method); (iii) 83-100 (non-resident migratory elephant) and (iv) 94 (captive elephants).
• Population trend: The Population trend was compared with previous research works results (Khan, 1980, Gittins and Akonda 1982, Chakraborty, 1996), which transpired that wild elephant population in Bangladesh has decreased as a whole.
• Corridor: A total of fifteen elephant movement routes or corridors were identified in Bangladesh.
• Threats: Fourteen threats were identified through FGDs and interviews, of which three were prioritized as major threats for elephants in Bangladesh. These are (a) habitat fragmentation and habitat loss (b) scarcity of fodder and (c) disturbed corridors.
• Food: A total of 143 plant species were identified at Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, out of which 17 species were elephant fodder that represents only 12% of the total local plant species.
• Financial loss: The study identified 6 broad categories of damages due to elephant raids that include loss of crops, fruits and fruits trees, houses, and bamboo. Collected information has been assessed in terms of direct financial losses, which showed that the aggregated financial loss is approximately TK.30000000 (US$513,654) in the study year 2001-2002. Among the category-wise losses, loss of crops stands highest followed by damage to houses.
• Human-elephant conflict/interaction: Loss of human life is higher than that of elephants. In the year 2001-2002, a total of seven wild elephants were died, whereas thirty-nine people died and 157 people were injured by elephant attack.

OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT

• Final report on “Conservation of Asian Elephants in Bangladesh”.

For further information, please contact:

Country Representative
IUCN – The World Conservation Union
Bangladesh Country Office
Gulshan – 1, Dhaka – 1212, Bangladesh
Tel: 880-2- 9890395, 9890423
Fax: 880 –2 - 9892854
E- mail: nishat@iucnbd.org
Web: www.iucnbd.org