The Asian Elephant: Ecology and Management / Edition 1

by Raman Sukumar

Overview

The Asian elephant has had a unique cultural association with people. Unfortunately, elephants and people have also been in conflict, resulting in the decline in elephants throughout their former range in Southern Asia. This book provides an ecological analysis of elephant human interaction and its implications for the conservation of elephants. The foraging habits of elephants and their impact on vegetation are considered, along with the interactions that occur between elephants and humans. The ecological data provide the basis for recommendations on elephant conservation and management, keeping in view the socio-economic imperatives of the Asian region.This first comprehensive account of Asian elephant ecology will be of particular interest to conservation biologists and mammalogists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521437585
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/11/1993
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Applied Ecology and Resource Management
Edition description:	REPRINT
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	7.52(w) x 9.29(h) x 0.67(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword; Acknowledgements; 1. The historical background; 2. Status and distribution of the Asian elephant; 3. The main study area and study methods; 4. Movement and habitat utilization; 5. Feeding and nutrition; 6. Impact on the vegetation and carrying capacity; 7. Crop raiding by elephants; 8. Manslaughter by elephants; 9. Habitat manipulation by people; 10. Elephant slaughter by people; 11. Population dynamics; 12. Conservation and management; Appendices; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This fine volume on the Asian elephant is certainly timely and thorough...This book is the most current work on this subject and is designed mainly for a professional audience. However, general readers with a strong interest in elephants will be able to use this as a resource." Choice

"This must surely become the standard reference book for the Asian elephant. It provides a wealth of relevant information that will be important to all who have to deal with humans and elephants." Quarterly Review of Biology

"...has a great deal of interesting information about Asian elephant natural history which is not available elsewhere: for example, wild diet, reproductive rates and home range sizes. The recommendations for conservation strategies are well thought out and include discussions of current strategies for habitat preservation used in Africa. The bibliography is excellent. I recommend this book as a resource volume to anyone interested in wild Asian elephant conservation issues. The factual information about animal natural history is also informative, particularly as a comparison to African elephants." John Lehnhardt, Animal Keepers' Forum

From the Publisher