Approximately 200,000 Asian elephants were living in Asia at the start of the 20th century, yet

that number fell by more than 75% (to anywhere between 25,000 and 42,000) over the course

of 16 years, due to the value of the ivory their tusks are composed of, habitat loss and the

usually disastrous results of human-elephant interaction. There are under 50,000 Asian

elephants left (2014), and that number fluctuates. (1)

 

Elephants used to inhabit a wide range of regions of Asia, but in modern day they’re restricted

to just 15% of their original distribution due to habitat loss and other human interaction. The

Indian elephant has the largest distribution range and is the most numerous, while the Sri

Lankan is restricted to very limited areas. Sumatran elephants were once commonplace and

well-distributed in Sumatra, but they have lost 70% of their range in recent years and are barely

surviving in fragmented herds. (1)