Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG)

Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is a vital science and wildlife knowledge forum for field conservationists and academics involved in protecting Asian elephants. The population of this elephant species is steadily declining across Asia. The AsESG works to protect the Asian elephant and their habitats in 13 Range States across Asia, where these elephants are found in abundance.

The AsESG is also concerned with conducting Red List assessments for the inclusion of the Asian elephant in the IUCN Red List. We have shared more information about the Asian Elephant Specialist Group here.

What is the Asian Elephant Specialist Group?

The Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is an international association of wildlife experts and field conservationists involved in studying, monitoring and protecting the Elephas Maximum species. This group was created under the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The primary objective of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group is to promote, encourage, and support Asian elephant conservation and aid efforts to increase their population to decent levels. AsESG is looking after the 13 Range States across Asia, where the population of the Asian elephant is in abundance.

About Asian Elephant

• Asian Elephant or Asiatic Elephant is a species of elephant found in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.
• This elephant is the largest terrestrial mammal in the Asian continent.
• The IUCN status of the Asian Elephant is ‘Endangered’. It has been on the IUCN Red List as an endangered animal since 1986.
• Currently, the population of this elephant species is estimated between 20,000 to 40,000 in total.

Why do we need to protect the Asian Elephant?

Over the past few decades, the population of the Asian elephant has decreased tremendously. In around 60-75 years, the population of this species has decreased by up to 50%. This makes the Asian elephant an endangered species which could go extinct. Therefore, it is extremely important that steps towards the conservation of this elephant are taken immediately.

Asian Elephant Specialist Group - Objectives

• The AsESG functions as Asian Elephant Red List Authority.
• It conducts Red List assessments of Asian elephants to include the species in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.
• The AsESG has played a key role in developing the International Trade in Endangered Species Convention (CITES) for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) and designing the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS).
• The primary objective of the AsESG is to monitor and evaluate biodiversity, identify the threats to biodiversity, foster conservation action, and conduct meetings for biodiversity conservation.
• AsESG also releases a journal named “Gajah” biannually, which tracks the population and conservation measures for the Asian elephant.

Asian Elephant Specialist Group - Members

Presently, there are over 110 volunteers in the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. The members of the AsESG are spread over 18 countries and are headed by Chair Mr Vivek Menon from India. Mr Menon is also a member of the IUCN Governing Council. The group's Program Manager is Dr Sandeep Kumar Tiwari, and the AsESG Red List Coordinator is Dr A. Christy Williams.

Every member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group is actively involved in various aspects and/or elephant conservation management. Besides the core members, the AsESG also comprises Ex-officio officers from the Ministry-nominated Range States responsible for elephant conservation in the respective countries. The membership of the group is reviewed every four years.

List of Members of Asian Elephant Specialist Group

The 18 member countries of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group are as follows:

Asian Elephant Specialist Group - Achievements

• The AsESG supported the technical preparation and facilitation of the First Asian Elephant Range States' meeting in 2006.
• It also facilitated the second Asian Elephant Range States meeting in 2017.
• Besides this, the group has designed and circulated various resource materials on Asian Elephant conservation.
• It also published a review of Asia's human-elephant conflict mitigation practices.
• The Asian Elephant Specialist Group publishes 'Gajah,' a bi-annual journal mentioning the conservation efforts undertaken by all stakeholders, the current Asian elephant population, and other measures regarding IUCN/SSC's AsESG.
• Gajah has been in continuous circulation since 1986.

The Asian Elephant Specialist Group has played a phenomenal role in sensitising people about the importance of protecting the endangered Asian elephant species. As more and more people become aware of the initiatives taken by the group, they will become active participants and not passive observers.

FAQ on Asian Elephant Specialist Group

Q1. What is the Asian Elephant Specialist Group?

The Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is an international association of wildlife experts and field conservationists involved in studying, managing, monitoring, protecting, and conserving Asian Elephants. They work together to conserve the remaining population of the Asian Elephant.

Q2. Who is the Chairman of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group?

Mr Vivek Menon from India heads the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. Mr Menon is also a member of the IUCN Governing Council. Asian Elephant Specialist Group works for the conservation and protection of the Asian Elephant, which is found in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.

Q3. Who are the members of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group?

Presently, there are over 110 volunteers in the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. The members of the AsESG are spread over 18 countries. The member countries of AsESG are India, Thailand, Japan, Germany, Bangladesh, USA, Malaysia, UK, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Laos, Bhutan, Nepal, Australia and Indonesia.

Q4. What is the most significant achievement of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group?

The Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) has played a key role in developing the International Trade in Endangered Species Convention (CITES) for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) and designing the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS).

Q5. Who owns the Asian Elephant Specialist Group?

Asian Elephant Specialist Group is a part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is responsible for monitoring and conserving the endangered Asian Elephant species which is found in the Indian subcontinent and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Q6. How many Asian Elephants are left in the world?

There are around 20,000 to 40,000 Asian elephants left in the world. This species of elephant is found in certain parts of Southeast Asia and across the Indian subcontinent. The Asian Elephant Specialist Group is responsible for protecting and monitoring the status of the Asian Elephant.