Asian elephants are among the most endangered large mammals worldwide, with only 45,000 to 50,000 individuals remaining due to various human activities such as deforestation, mining, dam building, and road construction. Researchers have quantified the impacts of human actions on wildlife by studying the history of Asian landscapes that previously served as suitable elephant habitat. By understanding this history and restoring these relationships, it may be possible to coexist with elephants and other large wild animals in the future. The study utilized a machine-learning algorithm to map areas that contained suitable elephant habitat and showed how those areas changed over centuries. The data revealed a 64% decrease in suitable habitat from 1700 to 2015 due to land-use changes such as plantation, industry, and urban development. The long-term solution to protecting and recovering ecosystems that serve both people and wildlife includes restoring traditional land management and local stewardship.
