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Sampson C, McEvoy J, Oo ZM, Chit AM, Chan AN, Tonkyn D, Soe P, Songer M, Williams AC, Reisinger K, Wittemyer G, Leimgruber P. New elephant crisis in Asia-Early warning signs from Myanmar. PLoS One 2018. [PMID: 29534096 PMCID: PMC5849331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie Sampson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States of America
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - John McEvoy
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States of America
| | - Zaw Min Oo
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Aung Myo Chit
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States of America
| | - Aung Nyein Chan
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States of America
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
- WWF–Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - David Tonkyn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States of America
- Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | | | - Melissa Songer
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States of America
| | | | | | - George Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, United States of America
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