Asian Elephants: Population, Behavioral, Ecosystem Interactions

Introduction 

The Asian elephants are species of elephants characterized by huge bodies and ears that are comparatively smaller about other species of elephants. One of the most notable features in Asian elephant is that their male species normally develop tusks whereas their female species do not develop tasks. Full grown males of the Asian elephant species usually weight a maximum of 11,000 pounds and a height of about 12 feet. In comparison, the females of this elephant species weigh less by a couple of thousands of pounds and shorter by several feet. The former range of existence of the Asian elephants was starting from the western part of Asia to the Indian subcontinent along the coast in Iran. Further, the range included the southeastern part of Asia, as well as parts of China (Maurer & Baxter, 2014). 

Population interactions of the Asian Elephants 

Over the last couple of decades, Asian elephants have been able to interact with a wide range of human populations within and beyond the habitats which have ended up having either a positive or negative impact on their population and efforts towards ensuring the survival of their species. By the start of the twentieth century, the population of Asian elephants around the globe was about 100,000. However, it is estimated that the present population of Asian elephants ranges between 35,000 and 40,000. It is believed that the Asian elephants were initially roaming across most regions around Asia, but considering the continuously shrinking population, they have currently been restricted and movement confined to just 15 percent of the initial allowable range of roaming. The rapid reduction experienced in the population of Asian elephants over the last couple of decades is attributable to threats environmental and ecological threats such as fragmentation and loss of habitat. Moreover, there is the issue of poaching and illegal trade of elephant tasks that is also believed to have significantly contributed towards the shrinking of the population or this particular species of elephants within Asia. Agricultural and development projects, as well as the expansion of human settlements to meet the housing demands of the rapidly growing population in Asia, have considerably contributed towards the fragmentation of the Asian elephants' habitats across Asia (Williams et al., 2015). 

Aspects of Behavioral Interaction among Asian Elephants 

Asian elephants are associated with various behavioral interactions depending on their living environment and the organisms with which they interact. Studies have been able to identify some personality dimensions determining the behavioral interactions of Asian elephants in their interaction with humans in a semi-captive populated environment of Myanmar. In this respect, one of the behavioral traits identified among the Asian elephants was attentiveness which largely associated with the kind of response given by these species of elephant towards mahouts and their general perception of their environment of interaction. The other behavioral trait identified about Asian elephant in that particular study was sociability which involves their ability to relate closely with other elephants within their environments. In this regard, Asian elephants are characterized with the ability to interact positively with different humans which causes them to be largely sought after by several others who are interested in establishing social partnerships with them (Edge & Sukumar, 2017). 

Naturally, Asian elephants tend to exist and live in animal family units that are described as complex fusion which forms a crucial component of a multi-tiered society of elephants where these elephant species can experience various forms of social interactions in the course of their lifetime. Nonetheless, it is interesting to note that there had not been a previous finding associated with the description of the behavioral aspect of sociability. As such, it would be necessary to come up with a collaborative effort towards carryout behavioral impacts of non-social factors affecting the interaction of Asian elephants. Asian elephants are usually regarded as some of the elephant species with a considerable level of intelligence which also influences the nature of their behaviors towards humans and amongst themselves. These species of elephants are also capable of creating and sustaining strong bonds in the course of having interactions among themselves in their different environments. Their efforts and movement usually influence the migration pattern of Asian elephants in search of food which is repeated on a yearly basis as long as their habitat remains intact (Maurer & Baxter, 2014). 

Community Interactions 

The community surrounding the Asian elephants has been playing a critical role in influencing their survival or decrease in number. In this respect, there are several instances that have been characterized by a deteriorated coexistence between Asian elephants and humans where people have extensively encroached intro the habitats belonging to the elephants. These nature of interactions between the between the Asian elephants and the community living within their surroundings always resulted in immense loses and havoc. To that extent, such interactions have always been associated with deaths of humans, deaths of elephants, damage to crops, and destruction of structures. Studies have indicated that different species of elephants such as the Asian elephant can be very destructive to crops and they could go to the extent of interfering with water bodies and infrastructures used by humans in various applications. These species of elephants have previously been found to be capable of causing serious damage to a different project being undertaken by humans. Nonetheless, there are positive outcomes that have been able to emanate from the interactions between the Asian elephants and the community living in their surroundings. One of such positive outcomes is that these species of elephants are often used by humans as an element of tourist attraction thus contributing towards economic gains for members of the surrounding communities (Williams et al., 2015). 

Ecosystem Interactions 

In their interaction with the ecosystem, Asian elephants have both positive and negative impacts. Asian elephants are often associated with the physical transformation of the forest while they make their way through it thereby contributing towards the realization of a more ecologically functioning forest. The creation of light gaps in the forest is often facilitated by these species of elephants as they move around the forest and knock down trees. Moreover, the Asian elephants are associated with keeping and maintaining clear undergrowth within the forest by way of trampling vegetation and shattering of rotting logs which also contributes towards speedy decomposition of the rotting substances. Studies have been able to show that different species of elephants, including Asian elephants, often struggle towards sustaining their survival in the course of the various interactions that they encounter in their different ecosystems (Edge & Sukumar, 2017). 

As such, Asian elephants are capable of boring holes of water in dry riverbeds thereby ensuring that other species within an ecosystem are provided with water. The creation of holes of holes of water is usually made possible when these species of elephants form footprint depressions on the ground that traps rainfall. Just like other species of elephants living in an ecosystem, thee Asian elephants always try to increase their chances of survival by engaging positively in various ecosystem interactions such as acting as means of seed dispersal through their fecal matter. The paths created by these species of elephants as they move around their habitats also play a crucial role by acting as channels of rainwater and firebreaks that are usually beneficial to several others animals within the ecosystem. Whenever these species of elephants move through regions of high grasses, they end up causing disturbance to insects, amphibians or reptiles thereby providing food for birds (Lee & Graham, 2006). 

Ongoing Conservation efforts and the Christian worldview 

Presently, there are several ongoing efforts towards the conservation and preservation of the Asian elephant as one of the endangered species around the world. Such efforts include significant and notable investments that have been made by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) across the globe to support anti-poaching operations, lower animosity between the Asian species of elephants and the surrounding communities as well as prevention of further loss of habitats for this species of elephants. There has also been the boosting of various law enforcement agencies and the such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by raising its capacity to deal with poaching and illegal logging that leads to the destructions of the habitats for these species of elephants. These preservation and conservation efforts related to the Christian worldview that advocates for the stewardship of the environment, the wildlife and their habitats without allowing or causing their unnecessary destructions (Edge & Sukumar, 2017). 

Conclusion 

In summing up, it is clear that the Asian elephant species are endangered following their rapid reduction in number. This is partly attributable to the nature of interaction that these species of elephants has been having with humans such as their association with deaths of humans, deaths of elephants, damage of crops, and destruction of structures. Moreover, these species of elephants have been proved to have the ability to bring about extensive damage to a different project being undertaken by humans who resorts to their elimination. Nonetheless, these species of elephants are also associated with some positive interactions with the ecosystem in the sense that they aid in seed dispersal and sustainability of other organisms. As such, there are ongoing efforts to ensure the preservation of the Asian elephant species in line with the Christian worldview. 

References 

Edge, W., & Sukumar, R. (2017). The Asian Elephant: Ecology and Management. The 

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Lee, P., & Graham, M. (2006). African elephants Loxodonta africana and human-elephant 

Interactions: implications for conservation. International Zoo Yearbook , 40 (1), 9-19. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.2006.00009.x 

Maurer, G., & Baxter, G. (2014). Population viability of captive Asian elephants in the Lao 

PDR. Endangered Species Research , 24 (1), 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/esr00578 

Williams, E., Bremner-Harrison, S., Harvey, N., Evison, E., & Yon, L. (2015). An 

investigation into resting behavior in Asian elephants in UK zoos. Zoo Biology , 34 (5), 

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