New elephant crisis in Asia-Early warning signs from Myanmar

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 3; p. e0194113
• Main Authors: Sampson, Christie, McEvoy, John, Oo, Zaw Min, Chit, Aung Myo, Chan, Aung Nyein, Tonkyn, David, Soe, Paing, Songer, Melissa, Williams, A Christy, Reisinger, Klaus, Wittemyer, George, Leimgruber, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 13.03.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animal populations; Biology and Life Sciences; Carcasses; Conservation; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Elephants; Elephas maximus; Environmental policy; Forecasts and trends; Global positioning systems; GPS; Habitats; Human beings; Influence on nature; Ivory; Management; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Myanmar; People and Places; Poaching; Proboscidea; Protection and preservation; Research programs; Satellite navigation systems; Skin; Social Sciences; Telemetry; Wildlife conservation; Myanmar; Myanmar (Burma); Asia; United States > US; Colorado; China
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194113

In the southern Bago Yoma mountain range in Myanmar, Asian elephants are being killed at a disturbing rate. This emerging crisis was identified initially through a telemetry study when 7 of 19 of collared elephants were poached within a year of being fitted with a satellite-GPS collar. Subsequent follow up of ground teams confirmed the human caused death or disappearance of at least 19 elephants, including the seven collared individuals, within a 35 km2 area in less than two years. The carcasses of 40 additional elephants were found in areas located across south-central Myanmar once systematic surveys began by our team and collaborators. In addition to the extreme rate of loss, this study documents the targeting of elephants for their skin instead of the more common ivory, an increasing trend in Myanmar. Intensive research programs focused on other conservation problems identified this issue and are now encouraging local authorities to prioritize anti-poaching efforts and improve conservation policies within the country. Myanmar represents one of the last remaining countries in Asia with substantial wildlands suitable for elephants. Increasing rates of human-elephant conflict and poaching events in this country pose a dire threat to the global population.