Elephas Maximus Research Articles

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in endangered captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) of Chitwan National Park in Nepal

In order to ascertain the comprehensive prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among captive Asian elephants in Chitwan National Park, a cross-sectional investigation was conducted. A total of 103 samples was purposefully collected. Demographic details encompassing age and gender, along with epidemiological information concerning deworming status, timing intervals, and nutritional condition for both government-owned and privately-owned elephants, were procured through a structured questionnaire survey. The process involved microscopic identification and quantification of gastrointestinal parasites through sedimentation, centrifugal floatation, and MacMaster Egg Per Gram (EPG) count methods. The resultant data indicated an overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites at 47.57% (49 out of 103 samples). The dominant class of parasites observed was Nematodes (n=30, 61.22%), followed by Trematodes (n=14, 28.57%) and Cestodes (n=5, 10.20%). Six distinct parasite genera were identified with positive results: Strongylus (26.53%), Trichostrongylus (24.48%), Fasciola (16.35%), Paramphistomum (12.24%), Anoplocephala (10.20%), and Ascaris (10.20%). Notably, the prevalence was markedly higher in females (39.80%) in comparison to males (7.76%), with the disparity being statistically significant (p>0.05). Additionally, a noteworthy correlation was observed between parasite prevalence, age groups, and deworming history, with statistical significance (p<0.05). The Egg Per Gram (EPG) count analysis demonstrated that the majority (87.75%) of the positively identified samples exhibited mild infection (100-500 eggs), while a relatively low percentage (6.12%) displayed heavy infection (1000-1500 eggs). The mean EPG was calculated as (248.39 ± 54.25). Consequently, the heightened prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive elephants within Chitwan National Park underscores the necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate the risk of parasitic infestations.

Innovating to solve a novel puzzle: wild Asian elephants vary in their ability to problem solve

Innovating to solve a novel puzzle: wild Asian elephants vary in their ability to problem solve

Experiences and emotional responses of farming communities living with Asian Elephants in Southern Sri Lanka

Individuals’ tolerance toward wildlife can be based on a combination of tangible benefits and costs (e.g. economic gains and losses) as well as intangible benefits and costs (e.g. shared values and risk perceptions). Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) potentially present both types of benefits and costs for rural communities. We examined which factors were associated with emotional responses toward wild Asian Elephants among agriculturalists using a questionnaire survey of 300 households situated around the Wetahirakanda sanctuary connecting Udawalawe and Lunugamwehera National Parks, Sri Lanka. Respondents were all from the Sinhala-Buddhist ethno-religious majority with average annual household incomes of Rs. 339,335 LKR (∼$2610 USD). We found that none of the surveyed households derived any economic benefits from tourism despite the proximity of two national parks, whereas 171 (57%) had experienced crop damage by Elephants. Though the median annual income lost due to elephants was Rs.50,000 LKR (4%), 21 households (7%) had losses exceeding 100%. Only six individuals (2%) recollected any human fatalities in their communities. Only three individuals reported positive feelings toward elephants, whereas all others had negative or neutral feelings. Economic factors were not significant predictors of feelings toward elephants, whereas fear of elephants and worry about crop damage had the largest and most significant negative effects. Our findings suggest that it might not be sufficient to reduce losses solely at an individual level, but that human-elephant coexistence interventions should target communities as a whole to reduce the spill-over effects of worry and anxiety by association with others who have experienced loss.

Non-targeted proteomic analysis of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) seminal plasma using an in-solution digestion technique and liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry.

Seminal plasma proteins have recently been reported to play a significant role as valuable materials for understanding male reproductive biology, identifying causes of fertility problems, and developing reproductive biomarkers. Proteomic analysis of seminal plasma holds promise in advancing the understanding of male Asian elephant reproductive biology. This study aims to explore seminal plasma proteins of Asian elephants and their probable functions to provide fundamental information about male reproduction in this species. The protein solution from pooled seminal plasma from 10 bulls (a total of 33 ejaculates) was digested into peptides and identified using LC-MS/MS. Out of 986 proteins, 597 were mapped and matched with 58 species in UniProt databases, including Elephas maximus. These mapped proteins were mostly involved in binding function, catalytic activity, cellular process, and metabolic process. Only 29 mapped proteins were recognized to be related in reproductive process, mainly associated in spermatogenesis and sperm capacitation. Additionally, several seminal plasma proteins related to fertility or semen quality in other mammals were also found in Asian elephant semen, such as keratin type I, aldose reductase, thrombospondon-1, fibronectin 1, platelet-activating factor acetyl hydrolase, mannosidase, and semenogelin-2. This discovery clearly reveals the beneficial protein profile in seminal plasma of the Asian elephant and serves as a crucial step in investigating infertility and poor semen quality in this valuable species.

Determinants of locals’ willingness to participate in human–elephant conflict management: Evidence from Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) poses a significant threat to the conservation of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) and the well-being of local communities in the tropical forests of Asia. As local communities play a crucial role in HEC reduction, their engagement is essential for the success and sustainability of HEC management strategies. This study employs exploratory factor analysis and a logistic regression model to examine the key determinants influencing the participation of locals in HEC management within the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve (DNBR), Vietnam. The findings indicate that improvements in elephant habitat and land use have the most substantial positive impact on locals' participation in HEC management, followed by policies for HEC reduction, local perception of the benefits associated with elephants, and measures for HEC prevention and mitigation. In terms of demography, individuals' education levels exhibit the highest positive influence on their involvement in HEC management, followed by income, and occupation. These research findings contribute to a broader understanding of human-wildlife conflicts and underscore the significance of community engagement in conservation efforts. By identifying the factors that influence local participation in HEC management, this study aims to inform future initiatives and policies aimed at mitigating conflicts between humans and elephants, while promoting coexistence and sustainable development in the DNBR, Vietnam.

Seasonal patterns of oxidative stress markers in captive Asian elephants in Thailand and relationships to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus shedding.

Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant activity and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which can have detrimental effects on animal health. Annual fluctuations in oxidative stress status can occur, increasing disease susceptibility during certain time periods. However, a full understanding of factors related to oxidative stress in Asian elephants and how to mitigate the negative consequences is lacking. This study measured six serum oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), albumin, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase] and two stress markers [serum cortisol and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM)] in 23 captive Asian elephants in Thailand over a 12 months period to examine relationships with age and season. Seasonal variations were observed, with several markers exhibiting significantly higher concentrations in the summer (ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG, albumin) and lower values during the rainy/winter seasons (MDA, 8-OHdG, albumin, catalase). By contrast, GPx was the only marker to be highest during the rainy season. For the stress markers, higher fGCM concentrations were noted during the rainy season, which contrasts with earlier studies showing more activity in the winter (tourist season). Positive correlations were found between the temperature-humidity index and ROS, GPx, and fGCM, while a negative correlation was observed with serum albumin. Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) shedding events were associated with higher concentrations of ROS and MDA. A moderate negative correlation was observed between 8-OHdG and the PCR threshold cycle of EEHV shedding (Ct), indicating DNA damage may be involved in EEHV shedding in elephants. Results revealed significant age and seasonal effects on several oxidative stress markers, indicating those factors should be considered in study design and data interpretation. There also may be physiological adaptations in oxidative stress conditions in relation to environmental changes that could impact health outcomes.

Assessing Asian Elephant Habitat Preferences in the Central Western Ghats Using GIS, Remote Sensing, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing are geospatial technologies that have been widely utilized in environmental science for decades, including data collecting and analysis on animal physical disability, wilderness modeling, and site assessment. Remote sensing technology has been employed in the present investigation. GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods were used to assess the habitat preferences of Asian elephants. Use satellite imagery and topographic maps to create environments and habitats, including land use cover (LULC), static vegetation (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), water, Digital Elevation models (DEM), line and aspect. Next comes the use of AHP to determine the location, select the location's priority and distribution pattern. This study examined the habitat preferences of Asian elephants in the Shakleshpur Taluk in the Central Western Ghats in the Karnataka district of Hassan.The results show that 16 percent of the land and 18 percent of the population is covered with forests. Most places have an altitude of 25° to 40° and an altitude of 800 m and 1000 m. The amount of water in the region is limited to the habitat of the elephants. Habitats inhabited by elephants highlight the need for good management inside and outside protected areas to protect these elephants, especially in areas of translocation, to ensure that habitats are compatible. This information will be useful to people working to safeguard Asian elephants and their surroundings in the Western Ghats.

Combining Camera Trap Data and Environmental Data to Estimate the Effects of Environmental Gradients on Abundance of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus in Cambodia

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) populations in Cambodia are currently declining, and the effect of environmental degradation on the abundance and health of elephants is poorly understood. We used camera trap data from 42 locations between 2016 to 2020 in the southern Cardamom Mountains to investigate the impact of environmental degradation on the abundance and condition of Asian elephants. Camera trap data were organized using CameraSweet software to retrieve both number of individuals and their condition. For a number of individuals, we defined independent captures spatially and temporally. To assess condition, we created a visual scoring system based on past research (Wemmer et al. 2006, Fernando et al. 2009, Morfeld et al. 2014, Wijeyamohan et al. 2014, Morfeld et al. 2016, Schiffmann et al. 2020). This scoring system relies on visual assessment of the muscle and fat in relation to the pelvis, ribs, and back bone. To validate this subjective scoring system, two scorers reviewed elephant captures by using 10 reference photos and then reviewing each other’s assessment in the first five images showing the elephant's body condition. This method minimizes subjective assessment from two scorers. Environmental variables (Suppl. material 1) such as distance to forest edge, forest integrity index, elevation, global human settlements, distance to road, distance to river, night light and forest cover were obtained, then reclassified in ArcGIS to a common 1 km grid. We implemented hierarchical N-mixture models to investigate the impacts of environmental variables on abundance and used cumulative link models to investigate the impact of the same environmental variables on condition. We found that Asian elephant abundance exhibited a significant positive relationship with distance to forest edges, where abundance was greater further away from a forest edge. We found that body condition score exhibited the relationship with forest cover and Forest Landscape Integrity Index, which suggested that grassland and less dense forest support better condition. Moreover, males exhibited significantly higher scores for body condition than females, while babies, juveniles, and subadults all exhibited lower body condition scores compared to adults. The significantly lower body condition of young elephants is concerning and suggests that conservation managers in the region should prioritize environmental conditions that support young elephant health. Our results identify key environmental variables that appear to promote Asian elephant abundance and health in the Cardamom Mountains, thus informing relevant conservation actions to support this endangered species in Cambodia and beyond.

Identifying sex and individual from faecal DNA of the Asian elephant using a single multiplex PCR for population monitoring

Identifying sex and individual from faecal DNA of the Asian elephant using a single multiplex PCR for population monitoring

Preliminary assessment of serum capillary zone electrophoresis in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

Serum protein electrophoresis has been demonstrated to have utility in diagnostic workup, wellness exams, and prognosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) has previously been described for use with serum from Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). As the newer method of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is becoming more commonplace in veterinary diagnostic laboratories, serum samples from Asian elephants were examined using this method. CZE allowed for a reproducible definition of two beta fractions and, overall, showed a low coefficient of variation for fraction quantitation. Preliminary reference intervals were generated using samples primarily from an older population of 22 female elephants. Albumin levels determined by CZE were also compared with those determined by the bromocresol green method on a chemistry analyzer. It was found that the latter method overestimated the level of albumin with a mean positive bias of 11.6% or 0.38 g/dL, thus method-specific reference intervals should be used. Significant negative correlations were observed between A/G ratio determined by CZE and serum amyloid A levels (r = -0.47, p < 0.0001) and haptoglobin (r = -0.52, p < 0.0001); both APP were significantly correlated with the alpha 2 globulin fraction (p < 0.0001). CZE reflects an overall picture of changes in acute phase proteins and immunoglobulins and accurate quantitation of albumin and thus should be considered as an adjunct tool to the use of other measures of the acute phase response in patient monitoring.

Mapping Asian Elephant Habitat Suitability Index in Alur Taluk, Central Western Ghats: A GIS, Remote Sensing, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach for Conservation Assessment

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing are geospatial technologies that have been used for decades in environmental science, including the collection and analysis of data on the physical disabilities of animals, and modelling of wilderness and site assessment. In this study, remote sensing technology was used. GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods were used to assess the habitat index of Asian elephants. Use of satellite imagery and topographic maps to create environments and habitats, including land use cover (LULC), vegetation (NDVI), water, and elevation models (DEM). Next comes the use of AHP to determine the location, select the location's priority and distribution pattern. This study used to evaluate Asian elephant habitat preference in the Central Western Ghats region of Alur taluk in Hassan district of Karnataka .The results show that 30 percent of the land is covered with forests and 59 percent of the land with population. Most places have an altitude of 8° to 25° and an altitude of 900 m and 1000 m. The amount of water in the region is not limited to the habitat of the elephants. Habitats inhabited by elephants highlight the need for good management inside and outside protected areas to protect these elephants, especially in areas of translocation, to ensure that habitats are compatible. This information will assist those involved in protecting Asian elephants and their environment in the central Western Ghats region.

Visual feedback influences the consistency of the locomotor pattern in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Elephants are atypical of most quadrupeds in that they maintain the same lateral sequence footfall pattern across all locomotor speeds. It has been speculated that the preservation of the footfall patterns is necessary to maintain a statically stable support polygon. This should be a particularly important constraint in large, relatively slow animals. This suggests that elephants must rely on available sensory feedback mechanisms to actively control their massive pillar-like limbs for proper foot placement and sequencing. How the nervous system of elephants integrates the available sensory information for a stable gait is unknown. Here we explored the role that visual feedback plays in the control of the locomotor pattern in Asian elephants. Four Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) walked with and without a blindfold as we measured their stride time intervals. Coefficient of variation was used to assess changes in the overall variability of the stride time intervals, while approximate entropy was used to measure the stride-to-stride consistency of the time intervals. We show that visual feedback plays a role in the stride-to-stride consistency of the locomotor pattern in Asian elephants. These results suggest that elephants use visual feedback to correct and maintain proper sequencing of the limbs during locomotion.

Pleistocene Lang Trang fauna in North Vietnam: taxonomic composition and habitats

New data on the taxonomic composition and ecological characteristics of Late Pleistocene vertebrates and invertebrates from the Lang Trang cave in northern Vietnam are presented. Based on the materials collected in progress of the work of the Joint Vietnam - Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center in 2020-2022, various representatives of the Stegodon-Ailuropoda Fauna of the second half of the Middle - early Late Pleistocene of Southeast Asia were identified, including primates Gigantopithecus blacki, Pongo sp., Trachypithecus sp., Presbytis sp., Macaca nemestrina, M. cf. fascicularis, M. cf. mulatta, and Macaca sp., carnivorans Panthera tigris, Neofelis nebulosa, and Arctonyx collaris rostratus, a lipotyphlan Chodsigoa hoffmanni, a bat Ia io, rodents Hystrix kiangsenensis, Leopoldamys neilli, and Rattus rattus, proboscideans Stegodon sp. and Elephas maximus, perissodactyls Tapirus indicus, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Rhinoceros sondaicus, and Rh. unicornis, artiodactyls Sus scrofa, S. barbatus, Tragulus kanchil, Hydropotes inermis, Muntiacus muntjak, Axis porcinus, Rusa unicolor, Capricornis sumatraensis, Bubalus arnee, and Bos sp., a crocodile Crocodylus sp., a turtle Cuora sp. and an abundant gastropod association, presented by six terrestrial forms, two freshwater species and a coastal-marine species Ellobium aurismidae. Gigantopithecus blacki, Macaca cf. fascicularis, M. cf. mulatta, Neofelis nebulosa, Chodsigoa hoffmanni, Ia io, Leopoldamys neilli, Rattus rattus, Rhinoceros unicornis, Sus barbatus, Tragulus kanchil, Hydropotes inermis, Axis porcinus, crocodiles, turtles, and most of gastropod species were identified for the first time in the Lang Trang Fauna based on these studies. Of particular interest is the finding of the giant ape G. blacki, one of the latest in the fossil record. The habitats of the fauna are characterized as mosaic biotopes with a predominance of wet stations and the participation of mangrove swamps and coastal lowlands; these conditions could have existed in the area of the cave during a major marine transgression of the early Late Pleistocene.

Population genetic structure and conservation of Asian elephant in north India inferred from microsatellite DNA

Population genetic structure and conservation of Asian elephant in north India inferred from microsatellite DNA

Camera trap surveys reveal a wildlife haven: mammal communities in a tropical forest adjacent to a coal mining landscape in India

Having knowledge of the status and distribution of species in a specific geographic area is crucial for creating efficient conservation strategies. In this study, we evaluated the abundance and diversity of medium to large sized mammals in a tropical forest in India that has been greatly impacted by coal mining. Using camera traps between June 2018 and December 2018, we recorded 27 mammal species over 3432 trap-nights in 81 camera trap stations within the study area. The photo-captured species included both common and high conservation value threatened species, such as tiger Panthera tigris, leopard P. pardus, sloth bear Melursus ursinus, Asian elephant Elephas maximus, Gaur Bos gaurus, Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata, and four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis. Wild boar Sus scrofa was found to be the most frequently photo-captured and widespread species. Our study provides valuable data on the species inventory and the relative abundance of species in the area, highlighting its significance for mammal conservation. It also emphasizes the need for effective conservation management strategies to protect the remaining forest fragments containing high diversity of mammals, including several threatened species in India.

Spatio‐temporal trend and mitigation of human–elephant conflict in Xishuangbanna, China

AbstractWith strict enforcement of the legal protection for Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in China, the elephant population has steadily increased from 146 elephants in 1976 to over 300 elephants in 2023. More elephants occur in highly fragmented and human‐dominated landscapes, resulting in serious human–elephant conflicts (HEC). We investigated the temporal and spatial aspects of HEC in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, China, from 2011‒2015 and 2016‒2020. We analyzed the characteristics of crop raiding, property damage, and human injury and death by elephants. Then, we employed a multi‐model ensemble forecasting framework to perform a risk assessment, and compared the changes in HEC hotspots to explore the factors influencing conflict. Our data revealed that 91,311 HEC compensations were recorded from 2011‒2020 with a total compensation amount of 127.01 million yuan (17.40 million USD), 89.75% of which was crop compensation. Areas of risk in 2011‒2015 and 2016‒2020 were 2,505 km2 and 3,157 km2, respectively, with an increase in area of 26.01%. The HEC risk areas were mainly distributed in nature reserves and surrounding areas, and &gt;65% of the risk areas were located in land‐use types dominated by artificial planting. Distance to farmland, distance to sparse wood, and slope had the greatest relative importance in the risk model evaluation. The mitigation measures that we recommend include strengthening the monitoring system for Asian elephants in areas with current and potential HEC risks; improving compensation mechanisms, such as determining accurate annual premiums, establishing a shared loss compensation mechanism, and ensuring a fair, transparent, and timely compensation process; and proposing habitat conservation measures, such as restoring suitable habitats for Asian elephants, establishing ecological corridors between nature reserves, and creating a nature reserve system based on the Asian Elephant National Park to enhance the habitat of Asian elephants.

Greenery change and its impact on human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka: a model-based assessment using Sentinel-2 imagery

ABSTRACT Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a significant conservation issue for Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and an environmental and socioeconomic crisis in elephant range countries, including Sri Lanka. Approximately 14,897 HEC incidents were recorded in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2021. In this study, we present a Sri Lanka-wide analysis to explore the impact of greenery change on HEC. Our sources were official government data, and land use and land cover maps developed using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. We applied the support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and object-based image analysis classifications to classify land cover into six categories. This classification scheme also considered the differences observed in Sri Lanka’s woody vegetation, consisting of forest, open forest, paddy fields, homestead gardens, and other crops. Analysis of the accuracies of the three types of classifiers confirmed that the supervised classification with two machine learning algorithms, RF and SVM, delivered a higher level of precision in land cover classification. RF was the best option, with a 97.34% overall accuracy and a 0.94 kappa coefficient, while SVM recorded a 94.68% overall accuracy and a 0.89 kappa coefficient. According to the findings, most HEC incidences were recorded in open forests (54%), while 62% were recorded within 2 km of the forest edge. Results indicated that HEC coincides with the human-occupied changed landscape adjacent to forest reservations and patches. The findings could be valuable for HEC management by identifying areas where elephants are most likely to conflict with humans, and the government may declare these as protected areas. Also, we propose an early warning system as an effective approach that helps detect and monitor elephant herds’ movement. Therefore, implementing long-term land use planning is crucial for protecting the forest and natural habitats, restoring elephant habitats, and mitigating HEC by minimizing human encroachment and promoting sustainable land use practices.

Attitudes towards the Potential Use of Aversive Geofencing Devices to Manage Wild Elephant Movement.

Aversive geofencing devices (AGDs) or animal-borne satellite-linked shock collars might become a useful tool to mitigate human-elephant conflict (HEC). AGDs have the potential to condition problem elephants to avoid human-dominated landscapes by associating mild electric shocks with preceding audio warnings given as they approach virtual boundaries. We assessed the opinions of different stakeholders (experts, farmers, and others who have and have not experienced HEC; n = 611) on the potential use of AGDs on Asian elephants. Most respondents expressed positive opinions on the potential effectiveness of AGDs in managing elephant movement (62.2%). About 62.8% respondents also provided positive responses for the acceptability of AGDs if pilot studies with captive elephants have been successful in managing their movements. Some respondents perceived AGDs to be unacceptable because they are unethical or harmful and would be unsuccessful given wild elephants may respond differently to AGDs than captive elephants. Respondents identified acceptability, support and awareness of stakeholders, safety and wellbeing of elephants, logistical difficulties, durability and reliable functionality of AGDs, and uncertainties in elephants' responses to AGDs as potential challenges for implementing AGDs. These issues need attention when developing AGDs to increase support from stakeholders and to effectively reduce HEC incidents in the future.

Environmental factors induced crop raiding by wild Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in the Eastern Economic Corridor, Thailand

Crop raiding are an increasing concern in wildlife conservation. This study identified the environmental factors that cause wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to enter sub-urban and rural areas and share resources with humans in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in the eastern part of Thailand. The snowball method was used to interview villagers that had crop raiding experienced in seven provinces of the EEC and adjacent provinces in the eastern part of Thailand in 2020, and data from 183 households indicated that crop raiding had increased continuously from 2000 to 2020, especially in Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Prachinburi provinces, which have seen increases in damaged agricultural areas. MaxEnt analysis showed an increase in incidents of crop raiding, while the elephants distribution area decreased from 9534 km2 in 2000 to 5199 km2 in 2010 and 4850 km2 in 2020. The study area has had land use changes in the low elevations from croplands of cassava and sugar cane to eucalyptus, para rubber, and fruits. These mixed crop plantations provide a pseudo-habitat for wild Asian elephants. The results from this study provide evidence that changes in land use and reduction of suitable habitat are factors that influenced the movement of wild Asian elephants to the rural agricultural areas and increased the incidents of crop raiding.

Identifying Migration Routes of Wild Asian Elephants in China Based on Ecological Networks Constructed by Circuit Theory Model.

Humans overlap with Asian elephants, resulting in frequent costly human-elephant conflicts, which disturb and even threaten local residents. In this study, we treat provincial and national nature reserves where Asian elephants still exist and other alternative habitats suitable for Asian elephants in southern Yunnan, China, as ecological patches. By using this approach, we can treat the terrain and surface state factors that hinder the migration of Asian elephants as a form of ecological resistance surface. We can then use a circuit theory model and remote sensing data to construct an ecological network, which allows us to identify ecological corridors and ecological pinch points. Herein, the possible migration routes of wild Asian elephants were identified. The main results are as follows: (1) In the study area, dense forests with steep slopes and high altitudes, cultivated land, and building land have greater migration resistance, while the gently undulating shrubs, bamboo forests, and grasslands far away from the city have less migration resistance. (2) There are three ecological corridor groups in the study area, mainly composed of shrub and grassland. The ecological corridors identified in this paper are the most likely migration routes of wild Asian elephants in China, and areas with higher simulated current densities reflect a higher probability of Asian elephants passing through. (3) According to the analysis, the ecological pinch points in the study area are 602 km2 in total, and woodland and grassland account for 89.2% of the total ecological pinch area. The areas where the pinch points are located have a high probability of Asian elephants passing through and a narrow space. Our findings can provide suggestions and solutions for the current conservation of wild Asian elephant species, alleviate human-elephant conflicts, promote the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and provide reference for biological protection and biological reserve planning.