Elephants, the largest and strongest land animals, play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of forests and ecosystems. There are three living species: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant, with the largest weighing up to eight tonnes. In countries like Myanmar, elephants are often referred to as essential ecosystem engineers because they create pathways in dense forests, enabling other animals to thrive.
Despite their strength, elephants face significant threats from humans. Poaching for their valuable tusks and body parts remains a serious problem worldwide. Elephants are often killed for profit, with little regard for the environmental consequences. In some areas, wild elephants are captured and trained to work in timber extraction, particularly in regions where heavy machinery cannot be used due to poor infrastructure. Myanmar, for example, still relies on elephants to log in remote forest areas.
In fact, wildlife and natural trees, as well as natural areas, are relying on one another. If unscrupulous persons are eager to smuggle all body organs of elephants to the grey market, Myanmar’s elephants will face the situation of becoming extinct. That is why everybody, including authorities, needs to protect the life and habitat of elephants to be free from danger for environmental conservation.
Another major threat to elephants is the shrinking of their habitats. As human populations grow, urban development, agriculture, and industrial expansion encroach on forest areas, leaving elephants with less space to live. This loss of habitat increases the likelihood of conflict between humans and elephants as the two compete for the same land. Although elephants have historically adapted to natural disasters, they struggle to survive human-induced challenges, both intentional and unintentional.
According to recent surveys, there are only about 50,000 wild elephants left in the world. African elephants are particularly at risk, with many being hunted illegally for their tusks and other body parts, which are then smuggled into black markets. Over the past decade, elephant populations have declined by 62 per cent, and many experts predict that the remaining elephants could face extinction within the next ten years.
In Myanmar, as of 2010, there were approximately 4,800 elephants, both wild and domesticated, used in logging operations. Experts estimate that around 1,500 wild elephants still inhabit forest reserves and protected areas across the country. Unfortunately, poaching continues to be a significant issue driven by demand from neighbouring countries. Between 2010 and September 2018, 108 elephants were killed by poachers in Myanmar’s forests, with an additional 105 elephants dying from natural causes during the same period.
In fact, wildlife and natural trees, as well as natural areas, are relying on one another. If unscrupulous persons are eager to smuggle all body organs of elephants to the grey market, Myanmar’s elephants will face the situation of becoming extinct. That is why everybody, including authorities, needs to protect the life and habitat of elephants to be free from danger for environmental conservation.
