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IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group

Group website
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Group leadership

Ms Heidi RIDDLE

Over 4 decades of experience working in wildlife management, science, and conservation. Work experience for more than 20 years with elephant conservation projects throughout South and Southeast Asia across different levels of government, as well as with non-governmental partners. Professional skills include partnership building, project management, coordinating educational opportunities, and fundraising.

Over 4 decades of experience working in wildlife management, science, and conservation. Work experience for more than 20 years with elephant conservation projects throughout South and Southeast Asia ...

More about the Specialist Group

The Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is an integral part of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The AsESG shall provide the best available scientifically grounded evidence to the abundance, distribution, and demographic status of Asian elephant populations in all 13 range states. It shall periodically compile range-wide assessments which shall be publicly disseminated via the AsESG website and ...

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More about the Specialist Group

The Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is an integral part of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The AsESG shall provide the best available scientifically grounded evidence to the abundance, distribution, and demographic status of Asian elephant populations in all 13 range states. It shall periodically compile range-wide assessments which shall be publicly disseminated via the AsESG website and other outlets.

The AsESG will continue to provide sound scientific and technical advice to aid in decision-making and conservation action, as well as focusing on capacity building to help the Asian Elephant Range States manage the species and the challenges it faces.

In the near future, the AsESG plans to deliver a number of guidelines and services including an Asian Elephant Database (similar in intent and function to the African Elephant Database), guidelines on Captive elephant management, various aspects of human-elephant conflict, management of captive elephants in musth, use of captive elephants for tourism and other aspects of elephant conservation and management. The group would also help the Range States in developing/updating their “National Elephant Conservation Action plan”.

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MISSION
The IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is a global network of specialists (both scientists and non-scientists) concerned with the study, monitoring, management, and conservation of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus). The overall aim of the AsESG is to promote the long-term conservation of Asia's elephants and, where possible, the recovery of their populations to viable levels.

Specialist Group work

The AsESG exists to conserve the prospects of Asian Elephants across 13 range States in which is improved through collaborative efforts of range countries and AsESG members.

Understanding threats to Asian Elephants through conservation acts

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Conservation of the elephant's habitat and maintaining habitat connectivity by securing corridors. The management of human-elephant conflict as part of an integrated, landscape-scale land-use policy. Better protection to the species through improved legislation and law enforcement, improved and enhanced field patrolling, and regulating/curbing trade in ivory, live elephants and other elephant products.

Asian elephants on the IUCN Red List

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To inform conservation efforts, AsESG assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

AsESG Annual Report

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Asian Elephant, Sri Lanka. Credit: Simon Hedges

Vivek Menon, Chair AsESG presenting AsESG report during the inagural session of AsESG members meeting in Sabah, Malaysia. Credit: AsESG archives

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