The bar graph illustrates the fluctuations in the maximum population of Asian elephants across eight countries from 1994 to 2007.
Overall, the data reveals a significant decline in elephant populations over the specified period, particularly noticeable in the leading countries, India and Myanmar, while a marginal decrease is observed among the other nations.
In 1997, India exhibited the largest population of Asian elephants, estimated at 10,000 individuals, followed by Myanmar with approximately 7,500. Thailand had a substantial population of around 5,000 elephants. Conversely, countries such as Cambodia, Laos, China, and Vietnam had lower populations, fluctuating from 2,500 to 5,000, whereas Bangladesh recorded the lowest figure with none reported. By 2004, there was a marked reduction in elephant populations across all surveyed nations, with India’s population diminishing to about 7,500 elephants, and Myanmar experiencing a decrease to 5,000.
Thailand’s population dropped significantly to around 2,500 by 2004, while the populations of Cambodia, Laos, China, and Vietnam decreased further, with figures no longer exceeding 2,500. The decline was particularly stark in countries such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka, which previously had populations averaging 3,000 to 4,000, yet failed to maintain these numbers. In contrast, India and Myanmar remained relatively stable, with Myanmar showing negligible change throughout the study period. Ultimately, the overall population of Asian elephants in 2004 was lower than in 1994, with India and Malaysia reflecting the most pronounced reductions, each dropping by approximately 2,000 elephants.