Elephants in Sri Lanka, why they're important?

The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, that's native to Sri Lanka. They're spread across almost every part of the country from the dry low lands to mountains and rainforests. Though they live all over the island, Minneriya, Kaudulla and Udawalawa national parks give ample opportunities to see and photograph Sri Lankan Elephants in large herds. Elephants eat almost every part of the tree and have a particular interest in aquatic plants like Lotus and Water Lillies. They eat up to 150-200 kilograms of vegetation every day. Sri Lankan Elephants are considered as the most intelligent elephant variety. They have 90% of the brain developed when they are born and can adapt to any environment in no time. Elephants, in general, are known to be led by the matriarch because the eldest (female) elephant, the most experienced one in a herd knows where to find water at different times of the year. However, if you take Sri Lankan elephants, the leader is a situational role because the food and water are available in abundance throughout the year. In Sri Lanka, only male elephants raid crops, females stick with the herd and look after the calves without taking any risks that may put the young lives in danger.

Sri Lankan elephants prefer eco-tones, the area between the dense jungle and shrubs because the food is secure and plenty of shelter to escape from the sun during the mid-day. Elephant behavior is so complex and can be identified only through a thorough study. They come together when they're nervous and spread when they're relaxed, even when safari vehicles are around. The primary responsibility of female elephants is to look after the calves. They're very projective and attentive around babies. When the calf is asleep, the mother is so careful not to do anything that may wake up the calf. On the other hand, male elephants live a solitary life. They join the herd only to find a receptive female. When puberty arrives, male elephants are chased away from the group. That is nature's way of preventing inbreeding. Unlike females, male elephants maintain a hierarchy in their society. They usually engage in fights to figure out their place. Male elephants reach their sexual maturity when they reach 15 years, start mating at 20, and reach the peak mating age around 35-55 years. They can mate even when they're not in musth as it gives only the advantage of dominance.

Elephants are the ecosystem-engineers as they can change the ecosystem for their needs. They're also known as keystone species because they create links with lots of other species and habitats. For example, elephants create microhabitats for all varieties of dung beetles, and they disperse grass seeds through relentless eating. Sometimes you can see deer herds follow elephants eating grass and leaves they leave behind. Because of this contribution, taking down one elephant has a massive impact on the whole ecosystem. When we are destroying habitats, we don't see what happens to small animals and birds, but we get to see larger animals like elephants. That makes them the perfect flag bearers of the natural world. In Sri Lanka, elephant habitats started loosing since the colonial era and continues even to this date. These habitats were destroyed mainly for agriculture and development projects. The life span of an elephant is quite similar to humans (60-70 years). Therefore when the habitats started loosing, they don't just move away because it's the land they used to live for decades. This trend continues not only in Sri Lanka but also in other parts of Asia such as India, Thailand, and Sumatra. In fact, due to habitat losses and conflicts with humans, the Sumatran elephant population is in double digits now. 

All in all, elephants are intelligent and emotional just as humans. They play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. The impact of taking down one elephant is massive to the nature and well-being of other wildlife. In Sri Lanka alone, the elephant population declined by 65% since the turn of the 19th century. In Sri Lanka, there are about 5000 elephants left in the wild and they are restricted to dry lowlands of the island. Creating corridors to stitch disjointed protected areas giving elephants a chance to move across reserves is a viable solution to lower the impact of land alterations. A national discussion is critical to find and implement solutions and policies that will safeguard the future of Sri Lankan elephants.