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INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION

The International Elephant Foundation Strategy in Support of Asian Elephant Conservation is the result of the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) facilitated workshop of technical representatives from U.S. Asian elephant facilities with expertise conserving Asian in care, and other U.S. representatives with expertise and experience conserving Asian elephants in range countries. The goal of this Action Plan is to enhance and conserve Asian elephant populations in the wild.

Mission Statement The International Elephant Foundation Strategy in Support of Asian Elephant Conservation provides a more coordinated Asian elephant conservation strategy for U.S. Asian elephant facilities focusing on the expertise and experience of the U.S. elephant management community.

Vision Statement This strategy identifies and describes those specific components of in situ Asian elephant conservation where there is a direct link to ex situ Asian elephant expertise, and identifies suggested management actions. With a priority focused list of actions, the U.S. elephant management community can maximize limited resources, encourage coordination and collaboration, and further encourage increased participation resulting in a more coordinated approach to maximize conservation activities.

1. Background

Asian elephants were historically found from West along the Iranian coast into the , and eastward into and parts of . Formerly ranging over three and a half million square miles, the Asian elephant is now extinct in West Asia, Java, and most of China, and survives in isolated populations scattered across remaining grassland and tropical forest habitats in thirteen Asian countries. Less than 30% of the entire extant range is within protected areas, and many protected areas afford little protection for elephants or their habitat. The Asian elephant is listed as an endangered by the IUCN Red Data Book and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in .

While Asian elephant populations continue to decline, there exists insufficient data to accurately estimate national elephant population sizes. A 2008 international workshop on the status of Asian elephant populations noted that little has changed in the past decade to improve overall population THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION estimates. Other than for a few areas, there is no formal measure of the trend of most elephant populations, including the great majority of the remaining core populations. The often repeated global population estimate of “about 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants” has been quoted for over a quarter of a century despite major loss of elephant habitat. While significant international focus has been directed at Asian elephant conservation, the underlying causes of Asian elephant population declines continue to exert pressure on most of the remaining populations.

Throughout history, the Asian elephant has played a unique role in human economies, religion, and culture. Archaeological evidence indicates that Asian elephants were commonly used as beasts of burden as early as 3000 BCE, particularly in war. Asian elephants were important to military supply lines as recently as the War in the 1960s. In some remote areas of Southeast Asia it is still more economical to use elephants for work than it is to use modern machinery. In range countries, have historically been used for labor ( and transport), eco-, exhibition/public awareness, and patrolling and conflict mitigation work. However, the relationship between and Asian elephants goes far beyond utility. Having a significant impact on religion and culture, elephants have a central place in and - the two major world faiths that originated in Asia. Today elephants are still commonly used for ceremonial and religious purposes in Asia.

While the role of captive Asian elephants has diminished and changed over time, they still play a functional role in most parts of their range. Over 13,000 captive elephants are currently maintained within range countries in Asia. This may represent as much as one third of the entire remaining Asian elephant population. Issues concerning the management of such a large captive population have been identified as one of the five key limiting factors for wild Asian elephant conservation due to the threat that illegal captures could pose. Sustainability of captive elephants in range states needs to be addressed along with management strategies to effectively respond to a possibly diminishing role for these captive .

Fewer than 1000 Asian elephants are managed in human care in non-range countries such as , South and Central America, Australasia, Middle East, Japan and . In the United States, 296 Asian elephants are currently managed in 78 facilities. Each facility has an established care and maintenance program for their elephants and many facilities also provide significant amounts of financial and human resources dedicated to ex situ research and in situ Asian elephant conservation. This community of expertise is unique, and brings a collective wealth of knowledge to help address the issues of Asian elephants in human care and their impacts on wild populations. There is an identified need for greater coordination and cooperation within this community relative to sustainable ex situ populations and a desire to maximize support that directly links ex situ expertise to in situ conservation.

With this background, IEF sponsored a facilitated workshop to bring a number of interested U.S. based Asian elephant technical experts together to develop a strategy in order to provide a more coordinated Asian elephant conservation strategy for U.S. Asian elephant facilities, focusing on the expertise and experience of the U.S. elephant management community. This strategy is intended to identify and describe those specific components of in situ Asian elephant conservation where there is a direct link to ex situ Asian elephant expertise, and identify suggested management actions. With a priority focused list of actions, the community can maximize limited resources, encourage coordination and collaboration and further encourage increased participation in cooperative breeding programs among the U.S. elephant holding institutions. It is also anticipated that this effort may

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION further encourage other elephant holding facilities to participate in a more coordinated approach to maximize their individual conservation activities. The results of the workshop are presented in this document.

A positive outcome of the workshop was the desire of the participants to organize a process to ensure continued work on implementation of this Action Plan. The International Elephant Foundation welcomes all interested conservation community parties to join these efforts, particularly other Asian elephant holding facilities that may manage Asian elephants but may not be actively involved in ex situ propagation or in situ conservation. IEF agreed to host the activities of the representatives of the Action Plan on an ongoing basis. IEF also agreed to develop and maintain a voluntary database to support implementation of the Action Plan and serve as a clearinghouse for projects associated with Asian elephant conservation. Representatives will meet on a periodic basis to evaluate progress and update the Action Plan as needed.

2. Goal

The Goal of this Action Plan is to enhance and conserve Asian elephants in the wild.

3. Proposed Conservation Area

Populations of Asian elephants are found in varying habitats throughout their current range in 13 countries. (See attached map.) Management actions may occur in any range country, depending on a number of factors including need, willing participation of the host country, existing conservation efforts being undertaken by Asian elephant facilities, and other factors.

Figure 1: Asian Elephant range showing all Confirmed, Possible, and Recoverable range categories, the selected core populations (“Candidate populations”) and the historical range. From Range-wide Mapping Workshop for Asian Elephants ( maximus) , October 2008, USFWS Assistance Award No: 98210-6-G23, funded by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

4. Population Objectives and Measurement

In situ Population Objective and Measurement

An international workshop held in Cambodia in 2008 brought representatives from all 13 Asian elephant range countries together to review the available information on the status of wild population of Asian elephants (Range-wide Mapping Workshop for Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) Cambodia, October 2008, USFWS Assistance Award No: 98210-6-G232). The workshop objectives were to map and characterize known populations of Asian elephants, as well as areas that may sustain populations but where recent survey data are lacking. Corridors to link known populations and areas for future reintroduction were also identified. A priority set of populations for conservation action covering the major ecological and genetic range of the Asian elephant was developed. Management actions under this Action Plan address one or more of these core populations.

A 100- Asia-wide vision for Asian elephant conservation was established that reflects the need for resiliency and functionality, replication to avoid catastrophic loss, and addresses human needs and aspirations. Operationally this encompasses 53 populations representing 50% of the current confirmed, possible, and recoverable range, for approximately 75% of the global population of Asian elephants across 22 different ecological settings.

Ex situ Population Objective and Measurement

The goal of this Action Plan is to enhance and conserve Asian elephant populations in the wild. Due to the potentially significant impact that elephants in human care may have on Asian elephant recovery, it is important to understand this relationship within the context of sustainability of the ex situ populations. While the U.S. Asian elephant population is considered potentially sustainable, it currently cannot retain a proposed goal of 90% gene diversity for 100 or 10 generations at current or greater population numbers, a population goal as defined by the Association of and Aquariums (AZA). As such, the U.S. population requires additional attention to make it more sustainable. The sustainability outlook for other ex situ populations outside of range countries is similar. Additionally, the current U.S. distribution of individual animals does not maximize to the extent possible a visibility goal to enhance outreach and educational opportunities. The visibility goal for the U.S. elephant holding institutions is approximately 100 additional animals demonstrating various natural social groups of males, females and family units. Limiting factors affecting the achievement of these objectives and suggested management actions are included where appropriate in relationship to achieving the in situ population objective.

5. Factors Limiting Population Abundance and Suggested Management Actions

An international workshop held in in 2006 brought all 13 Asian elephant range country representatives together to conduct a threats assessment and identify limiting factors affecting population abundance in Asian elephants (Elephant Range States Meeting, 24-16 January 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, IUCN/SSC). A follow-up workshop on limiting factors was held in conjunction with the 2008 Cambodia workshop on status. The 2006 workshop identified five overarching factors limiting population abundance for Asian elephants. These included: lack of adequate status and threats assessment; and loss; human-elephant conflict;

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION illegal killing and trade; and managing captive Asian elephants. Highest priority suggested management actions were also identified for each limiting factor.

It is noted that many U.S. facilities managing Asian elephants have been actively involved in in situ Asian elephant conservation in a number of range countries based on their particular background, interests and expertise, affecting one or several of the identified limiting factors. The stated purpose of this Action Plan is to identify and describe those specific components of in situ Asian elephant conservation where there is a direct link to ex situ Asian elephant expertise, and identify suggested management actions appropriate to that expertise to assist the community to maximize limited resources and to encourage coordination and collaboration for a more focused impact.

In this context, the workshop participants agreed that three of the five limiting factors possess the greatest potential link to the ex situ elephant community’s expertise. These include: A) managing captive Asian elephants; B) Human-elephant conflict; and C) habitat fragmentation and loss. For each limiting factor the highest priority management actions to be addressed by the U.S. elephant management community within the next 3-5 year planning horizon were identified. The components of the management actions include: (1) assumptions, (2) potential recommended actions, and (3) suitable monitoring methods to document outcomes. Recognizing assumptions was important because of the potential of misidentifying a key factor. Alternatively, a particular management action may prove to be ineffective. This also reinforced the value of generating feedback from monitoring which will allow re-evaluating assumptions. Tracking individual management actions is needed to generate quicker feedback and provide some insight into the effectiveness of the management action influencing population status.

Clearly, long-term monitoring is essential to determine progress toward achievement of the stated biological objective for Asian elephants, and this Action Plan does not directly address the lack of adequate status and threats assessment or illegal killing and trade. Nor does it attempt to address all possible management actions for the limiting factors identified. It is assumed that the broader conservation community will continue its collective efforts on behalf of Asian elephant conservation.

This Action Plan does serve to focus the expertise and resources of a critically important component of Asian elephant conservation that possesses a unique expertise. As such, that expertise may be more effectively and efficiently applied to in situ Asian elephant conservation through a coordinated strategy. The results will provide a direct link of these activities to established limiting factors and an overall biological objective for Asian elephant recovery. It is also hoped that this Action Plan will provide a forum for additional facilities managing Asian elephants to become more actively involved in Asian elephant in situ conservation through direct participation in the plan, or through contributions for implementing the various management actions identified.

A. Managing captive Asian elephants in Asia

The international workshop held in Malaysia in 2006 identified issues relative to managing captive Asian elephants as a high priority limiting factor for Asian elephant populations. Four needs were identified: (1) to expedite the registration of captive elephants to facilitate monitoring of illegal trade; (2) standardization of microchip implant-based registration systems across all Asian elephant range countries to facilitate the detection of cross border movements of captive elephants; (3) consider the needs for captive elephants in the future through well planned

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION strategies; and, (4) establish good management and husbandry practices. Facilities in North America and other non-range countries, with their combined experience and expertise in care and population management, are in a unique position to help range countries identify and address opportunities to enhance captive elephant management.

The current North American AZA Asian elephant population is not currently sustainable at current or greater population numbers (Asian Elephant ZooRisk Modeling Report – 16 May 2011) and the addition of the non North American AZA Asian elephant population does not change the sustainability outlook. Also, the distribution of North American Asian elephants does not maximize visibility as part of an outreach/educational objective. Elephant management facilities in North America operate on the generally accepted premise that their visible public activities - exhibiting, entertaining, educating -- and their not-so-visible activities -- research, husbandry, reproduction -- play a critical role in the conservation of species. One of the cornerstones of species preservation is conservation education by raising public awareness through, among other things, display, story- telling and messaging. While we can assume that patrons are motivated by an interest in animals, the question to what extent that interest is heightened and translates to personal action in support of elephant conservation is worth measuring. In essence, is the message that the value of managing elephants ex situ helps protect wild elephants in range countries being effectively conveyed?

At the same time, are we effectively demonstrating to our range country partners that our work with elephants ex situ directly supports and sustains the ability to bring resources -- funding, expertise, education -- in support of both conservation of wild elephants and assistance to managed populations? Our goal is to ensure that both our patrons and conservation partners appreciate and understand the link between managing elephant populations ex situ and the benefit to wild and managed populations in range countries. In order to accomplish this goal we will need to effectively demonstrate this link and measure the impact on public attitudes both in range countries and in North America.

Management Actions 1. Monitoring captive elephant populations in range countries. Assumptions: Captive elephants need to be monitored to determine impacts to wild populations. Where: All range countries. Actions: Provide technical assistance to range country authorities to record individual animal identification and registration. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 2. Determine sustainability of range country captive elephant populations. Assumptions: Most range country captive elephant populations are not sustainable. Where: All range countries. Actions: Provide technical assistance to range country authorities to determine range country captive population status and viability. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 3. Improve range country captive elephant care, management and health. Assumptions: Not all range country captive elephants have adequate care. Where: All range countries. Actions: Provide transfer of information and technology to improve range country elephant care, management and health. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress.

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

4. Assess the impact captive elephant populations in range countries have on wild elephant populations. Assumptions: Impact of captive elephant populations on wild elephant populations are not quantified. Where: All range countries. Actions: Provide technical assistance to range country authorities to identify and quantify impacts. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 5. Develop plans to address impacts on wild elephant populations Assumptions: Information derived from Action 4 will provide information to develop mitigation plans. Where: All range countries. Actions: Provide technical assistance to range country authorities to help prepare mitigation plans. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 6. Determine U.S. population needs for a sustainable elephant population. Assumptions: The U.S. elephant population requires recruitment to become sustainable. Where: All ex situ populations Actions: Expand population viability modeling to include the global ex situ elephant populations to determine availability for possible recruitment. Monitoring: Prepare report on modeling findings with recommendations. 7. Quantify the impacts of conservation education at U.S elephant holding facilities on public action in the U.S. Assumptions: Visible public activities - exhibiting, entertaining, educating -- and their not- so-visible activities -- research, husbandry, reproduction -- play a critical role in the conservation of species. Where: North America Actions: Determine if we are effectively communicating and educating about our elephant programs and the need and ways to support Asian elephant conservation activities a) Better 'branding' and promotion of IEF projects and other Asian elephant conservation efforts b) Survey existing data, identify gaps c) Survey local attitudes /monitor effectiveness. d) Identify specific issues and ways individuals can be empowered e) Form partnerships with range country activities Monitoring: Independent contractor to conduct facility wide harmonized survey. 8. Quantify the impacts of conservation education at U.S. elephant holding facilities on public action in range countries. Assumptions: Visible public activities - exhibiting, entertaining, educating -- and their not- so-visible activities -- research, husbandry, reproduction -- play a critical role in the conservation of species. Where: Range countries Actions: Determine if we are effectively communicating and educating about our elephant programs and the value of partnering with ex situ elephant holding facilities in the range states? a) Better 'branding' and promotion of IEF projects and other Asian elephant conservation efforts b) Provide capacity building /technology (expertise) transfer

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

c) Form local partnerships and support locally identified needs d) Survey local attitudes /monitor effectiveness. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress

B. Habitat fragmentation and loss.

The international workshop held in Malaysia in 2006 identified issues relative to habitat fragmentation and loss as the highest priority limiting factor for Asian elephant populations. Four management actions were identified: (1) Habitat loss and fragmentation needs to be stopped through proper land use planning that is supported by a clear national policy; (2) There is a need to develop and use an elephant-specific process to minimize the adverse impact of developmental activities on elephant habitat; (3) Consider the option of using Managed Elephant Ranges for bringing greater parts of the elephant population and habitat under protection and management; and (4) Increase our knowledge of behavioral ecology of elephants and incorporate it into the conservation planning process.

As part of the process of addressing several of the limiting factors of the wild Asian elephant population that were outlined at the Asian Elephant Range States in Malaysia in 2006, this International Elephant Foundation Strategy in Support of Asian Elephant Conservation promotes Human-Elephant Coexistence and supports biodiversity by engaging with community-led conservation initiatives in the 13 Asian elephant range countries. One potential need identified in this Action Plan is for the International Elephant Foundation to both assist and unite community-led initiatives. These community-led conservation initiatives, or conservancies, could promote biodiversity conservation and improved environmental management while improving and diversifying livelihoods of people living with elephants. By engaging neighboring communities in conservation, this Plan is committed to maintaining or re-securing traditional wildlife migration routes and to increasing the total land devoted to conservation in the region.

The survival of the Asian elephant depends heavily upon the attitudes and engagement of local people in community areas. Towards this end, this International Elephant Foundation Strategy IN Support of Asian Elephant Conservation hopes to influence local attitudes in a favorable direction through community development and educational initiatives. By involvement with conservancies in local threats assessments, both from the perspective of the people and the elephants, this Plan will work holistically with range country partners to contribute to the conservation of this endangered species.

Management Actions 1. Corridor development through long term investment in human-elephant coexistence strategies/community-led conservancies Assumption: Corridors help mitigate habitat fragmentation. Where: All range countries Actions: Sponsor research and provide technical assistance to range country authorities to help: 1. Identify corridors 2. Strategic planning of corridors 3. Restoration of corridors Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress.

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

2. Strategic protection of habitat through community-led conservancies Assumption: Land use planning will mitigate habitat fragmentation. Where: All range countries Actions: Sponsor research and provide technical assistance to range countries and partner with government and NGOs to produce a government plan. Work with government and NGOs to protect habitat through various activities including land purchase. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 3. Determine home range and corridors through tracking and monitoring elephant movements Assumption: Asian elephant home range and historic migration corridors must be determined to appropriately identify habitat to protect. Where: All range countries Actions: Sponsor research and provide technical assistance to range country authorities to monitor elephant movements to determine range and corridors. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress.

C. Human-Asian elephant coexistence.

The international workshop held in China in 2009 identified issues relative to Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) as one of the highest priority limiting factor for Asian elephant populations (Human Elephant Conflict Task Force Workshop, Beijing China, July 10-11th, 2009). A number of recommendations were developed including: (1) Need to shift to realistic and practicable management approach that is based on good data and which takes a holistic and integrated approach to conservation and HEC mitigation; (2) Need for coordination between government agencies, local communities and all other stakeholders; (3) Need to standardize the measurement and interpretation of HEC and design guidelines (4) Need to assess habitat needs of wild Asian elephants and the mechanisms of HEC; and (5) Need to promote education and awareness to enhance tolerance/co- existence among others.

Management Actions 1. Determine best evidenced-based/adaptive management approach for an individual region’s HEC mitigation Assumption: There is no single mitigation technique that is applicable to all HEC situations. Where: All range countries Actions: Provide support and/or technical assistance to range countries and partner with government and NGOs to classify ecosystems in habitat and population, survey current HEC incidences. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 2. Encourage tolerance for living with elephants through education and improved mitigation techniques Assumption: Communities can learn to live with wild elephants through education and economic incentive programs. Where: All range countries Actions: Provide support and/or technical assistance to range countries and partner with government and NGOs to identify appropriate mitigation techniques for specific regions. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress.

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THE INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION

3. Identify and assist with development of alternative livelihoods and improved land use policies. Assumption: Community-based strategies will be effective in human elephant coexistence. Where: All range countries Actions: Provide technical assistance to range country communities and partner with the community and NGOs to produce a community plan. Work with communities and NGOs to protect elephants and habitat through economic incentives to the community. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress. 4. Strategic protection of habitat through community-led conservancies Assumption: Community-based strategies will be effective in human elephant coexistence. Where: All range countries Actions: Provide technical assistance to range country communities and partner with the community and NGOs to produce a community plan. Work with communities and NGOs to protect elephants and habitat through economic incentives to the community. Monitoring: Range country surveys to determine progress.

6. References 1. Elephant Range States Meeting, 24-16 January 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, IUCN/SSC. 2. Human Elephant Conflict Task Force Workshop, Beijing China, July 10-11th, 2009. 3. Range-wide Mapping Workshop for Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) Cambodia, October 2008, USFWS Assistance Award No: 98210-6-G232.

International Elephant Foundation Strategy for Asian Elephant Conservation Rex R. Johnson, PhD, USFWS (Facilitator) Kenneth Stansell (Facilitator) Mini Nagendran, PhD, DVM, USFWS Tom Albert, Center for Elephant Conservation Martha Fischer, AZA Elephant TAG/SSP, St. Louis Joan Galvin, International Elephant Foundation Barbara Heffernan, SeaWorld Mike Keele, Oregon Zoo Wendy Kiso PhD, Center for Elephant Conservation Deborah Olson, International Elephant Foundation Harry Peachey, Columbus Zoo Dennis Schmitt DVM, PhD, Center for Elephant Conservation Brandy Smith, Smithsonian National Zoo Heidi Riddle, Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary Randy Rieches, Safari Park

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