Status and management of Asian elephant in Bangladesh

Abstract

The elephant is now a critically endangered species in Bangladesh. About a hundred years ago, elephants were still abundant in most of the forests of Bangladesh, even in the Madhupur forests near Dhaka (the capital of Bangladesh). In that time the number of wild elephants was estimated to be 195-234, with 83-100 of them being trans-boundary elephants. In 2008-2009, Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB) and Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO) India, reported 100-120 wild elephants in Nalitabari of Sherpur and 50-70 in Durgapur of Netrokona, and 30-35 in Rangunia of Chittagong, based on a participatory rural appraisal and questionnaire survey. Beside this, there are 93 captive elephants in Bangladesh and its distribution is throughout the country related to circus party and hilly area for timber logging. Among the 17 government-owned elephants, 13 are engaged in hauling logs. Of the 93 captive elephants, 72 are used to haul logs, 17 are circus elephants, three are zoo elephants, and one is owned by Betbunia Police Station, Rangamati. Of the captive elephants, 55 are females and 38 are males. Of the captive elephants, 57 (27 males and 30 females) are under 30 years, of which 22 (15 males and 7 females) are under 10 years. It is studied that Habitat loss and fragmentation have had a severe impact on the wild elephant population in Bangladesh. A new threat to trans-boundary elephants is permanent fencing along international borders. Such fences built by India and Myanmar will seriously disrupt the regular movement of elephants between them and Bangladesh. There should be a compulsory nationwide, central elephant registry. Information on births, deaths, and transfers (including trading) of all domesticated elephants should be properly maintained. Therewith public awareness is also necessary to conserve these large herbivores to maintain the ecology.