The world celebrates World Elephant Day today.
- By KrishCNL
- August 12, 2025
- Environment & Climate, News
- Elephant, SL
- 0 Comments
The world celebrates World Elephant Day today, on August 12, reminding the global community of the urgent need to protect elephants and their natural habitats.
Sri Lanka is observing this day amid significant human-elephant conflict, with increasing voices raised against the killing of elephants by shooting in several areas across the country. Globally, the day highlights the many threats facing these majestic animals, including habitat destruction, poaching, human-elephant conflicts, and illegal trade.
Sri Lanka has approximately 6,000 to 7,500 elephants, and recent reports reveal that more than 30 elephants have died in the past few months.
In Asia, the largest elephant population is found in India, estimated at around 27,000 individuals, followed by Thailand with about 3,500 to 4,000 wild elephants, and Myanmar with roughly 2,000 to 3,000 elephants. Other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia have smaller populations, ranging from several hundred to a few thousand.
For African elephants, which consist of two species, the numbers are larger. Savanna elephants number approximately 415,000, mostly in eastern and southern Africa. Forest elephants are estimated at 40,000 to 50,000, primarily in central and western Africa.
