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. 2018 Mar 13;13(3):e0194113.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194113. eCollection 2018.

New elephant crisis in Asia-Early warning signs from Myanmar

Christie Sampson  1   2 , John McEvoy  2 , Zaw Min Oo  3 , Aung Myo Chit  2 , Aung Nyein Chan  2   4   5 , David Tonkyn  1   6 , Paing Soe  5 , Melissa Songer  2 , A Christy Williams  5 , Klaus Reisinger  7 , George Wittemyer  4 , Peter Leimgruber  2
Affiliations

New elephant crisis in Asia-Early warning signs from Myanmar

Christie Sampson et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

In the southern Bago Yoma mountain range in Myanmar, Asian elephants are being killed at a disturbing rate. This emerging crisis was identified initially through a telemetry study when 7 of 19 of collared elephants were poached within a year of being fitted with a satellite-GPS collar. Subsequent follow up of ground teams confirmed the human caused death or disappearance of at least 19 elephants, including the seven collared individuals, within a 35 km2 area in less than two years. The carcasses of 40 additional elephants were found in areas located across south-central Myanmar once systematic surveys began by our team and collaborators. In addition to the extreme rate of loss, this study documents the targeting of elephants for their skin instead of the more common ivory, an increasing trend in Myanmar. Intensive research programs focused on other conservation problems identified this issue and are now encouraging local authorities to prioritize anti-poaching efforts and improve conservation policies within the country. Myanmar represents one of the last remaining countries in Asia with substantial wildlands suitable for elephants. Increasing rates of human-elephant conflict and poaching events in this country pose a dire threat to the global population.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Locations of the study sites in Myanmar.
1) Ayeryarwady Delta, 2) southern Bago Yoma mountain range, and 3) southern Tanintharyi region. Myanmar elephant range from [18]. Image source: World Imagery: Esri, DigitalGlobe, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, GeoEye, USDA FSA, USGS, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, and the GIS User Community (accessed November 2017).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Locations of elephant deaths and disappearances in Myanmar.
Inset map shows elephants lost at the Bago Yoma field site, including collared and uncollared elephants. Image source: World Imagery: Esri, DigitalGlobe, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, GeoEye, USDA FSA, USGS, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, and the GIS User Community (accessed November 2017).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Elephant 201601.
The carcass of Elephant 201601 was located on May 18th, 2016 in a rubber plantation. Credit: Christie Sampson.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Skinned elephant cacass.
The skinned carcass of an elephant found in April in Ayeyarwady. Credit: Dr. Zaw Min Oo.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Poaching for elephant body parts.
Elephant skin and trunks removed by poachers in Ayeyarwady. Credit: Dr. Zaw Min Oo.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Bago Yoma elephant population survival estimation.
Population survival estimation over time utilizing data from the Bago Yoma collared elephant study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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