The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

months. Asian Elephants can live up to 70 years and
can have a long reproductive period from 12 to 60
years, within which they can produce as many as 12
calves.
Conservation Status
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.
Legal Status
CITES Appendix I
Listed in the National Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Act 2029 (1973) as protected priority
species. The species occurs in protected areas.
National Population Size
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.
National Distribution
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.
Distribution outside Nepal
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.
Main Threats
• Habitat degradation and loss of corridor
connectivity.
• Habitat shrinkage outside protected areas.
• Human-wildlife conflict.
• Potential risk of disease (TB).
Conservation Measures in Place
The Elephant Conservation Action Plan for Nepal
(2009-2018).
Conservation Recommendations
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
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