The National Red List Project

NRLD - 327687 | Elephas maximus

Assessment ID
327687
Taxon name
Elephas maximus
Linnaeus, 1758
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Elephas maximus
Linnaeus, 1758
Common name(s)
Asian Elephant, Hati, Hasti, Gaja
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
proboscidea
Family
elephantidae
Genus
Elephas
Species
maximus
Species authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Bangladesh
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Bangladesh
Country ISO code(s)
BGD
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Critically Endangered
Abbreviated status
CR
Criteria system used
IUCN

(see Assessment details)

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.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2015
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Anisuzzaman Khan
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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/
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
No
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).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes, in the publication/on website
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
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).
History
Critically Endangered in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh 2000).
Publication
Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals
IUCN Bangladesh. 2015. Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp. xvi+232