Global: Endangered

National: Endangered D

Rationale for assessment: The Asian elephant (Elephas Maximus) has been assessed as Endangered due to a small population of mature individuals and loss of connecting corridors.

CITES Appendix I

Listed in the National Parks and Wildlife

Conservation Act 2029 (1973) as protected priority species. The species occurs in protected areas.

Total: 255 - 265 (plus 150 domestic Asian Elephants)

Adults: < 150

The current estimated total number of elephants

in Nepal is between 255 and 265. The global

population is currently estimated to be between 36,790 and 51,160 individuals. In neighbouring north east India, there are between 9,200 and 11,300 Asian Elephants, and some of these individuals move between bordering areas of Nepal and India. The movement of elephants between Nepal and India occurs through Khata Corridor (Bardia National Park and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India) and Basanta Corridor (in Kailali which connects the larger forests in the north of the district with Dudhwa National Park India). There are

approximately 16 to 22 migratory individuals

occurring in Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve and further migratory individuals entering Bardia

National Park from Dudwa. A herd of over 100 animals residing in the forests of Naksalbadi area in India frequently visit Nepal?s Bahundangi area stretched along Mechi River that forms the eastern border with India. Few individuals from this group occasionally travel all the way to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. These and others could potentially

re-colonise areas in Nepal.

Asian Elephants are distributed across the Terai

region of Nepal and estimated to be present within 22 districts of Nepal. They are present in Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park, Koshi Tappu, Parsa and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserves. Movement of animals has been recorded between protected areas and adjacent forest patches within Nepal and parts of India with corridors connecting Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve to Bardia National Park and Dudhwa National Park and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary across the Indian border.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India

(including north eastern areas extending from the eastern border of Nepal, northern West Bengal through western Assam along the Himalaya

foothills), Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar,

Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

• Habitat degradation and loss of corridor

connectivity.

• Habitat shrinkage outside protected areas.

• Human-wildlife conflict.

• Potential risk of disease (TB).

The Elephant Conservation Action Plan for Nepal (2009-2018).

i) Determine and monitor status of both resident and migrating elephant groups in the Terai districts of Nepal. Implement standardised monitoring systems to provide reliable information on

population structures.

ii) Identify and prioritise areas for the conservation of the species.

iii) Maintain and improve corridor connectivity. Develop district-level strategic management intervention work plans and maintain all critical forest corridors (protection forest, production forest, community forest and collaborative managed

forest) used by both resident and migratory

elephant groups in all Terai districts.

iv) Reduce habitat degradation (for example through effective control of invasive alien plant species) and assess remaining habitats where evidence suggests that elephant populations could be increased.

v) Reduce human-elephant conflict through effective mitigation (farm-based deterrence

methods and maintenance of fencing), quick processing of compensation cases and education, awareness and engagement programmes.

vi) Initiate/continue research/monitoring in

identified sites.

vii) Continue to monitor TB in domestic elephants and extend to wild populations where required.

viii) Establish and strengthen a functional modality at local and central levels,between concerned

agencies of Nepal and India, using existing bilateral

cooperation, Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) and CITES, to address cross-border elephant issues.

ixi) Develop trans-boundary initiatives with India; build a greater and effective partnership between rural communities and concerned Government line agencies and conservation organisations to provide continual support to the people in elephant-related conflict and protection of elephants.

Steinheim et al. 2005, Santiapillai and Sukumar 2006, Pradhan 2007, Pradhan and Wegge 2007, Pradhan et al. 2007, Baral and Shah 2008, Choudhary et al. 2008, Hemanta Yadav (pers. comm.) 2010, Naresh Subedi (pers. comm.) 2010, Nepal Red List of Mammals National Workshop.