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To conserve a species, we must understand it.
Being evidence-based means advancing peer-reviewed research that is solidly grounded in science so that we can better protect wild elephants. The major research areas we work in concern:
EMBER sums up these priorities: Elephant Management, Behavior and Ecology Research. |
Udawalawe Elephant Research Project
Understanding Elephant Behavior and Ecology
Sri Lanka hosts the second largest wild Asian elephant population in the world. Established in 2006, the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project is a unique ongoing long-term study following the lives of wild Asian elephants in and around Uda Walawe National Park in south-central Sri Lanka. It follows the lives of more than 400 individually-identified elephants out of a population numbering approximately 1000 animals. It is one of the two major initiatives supported by Trunks & Leaves. Through these pioneering efforts, and thanks to the dedicated efforts of field staff, we have gained new insights into the behavior, reproduction, and basic ecology of wild Asian elephants.
The Coexistence Project
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Finding Ways To Live Together
How can elephants and people safely coexist on a crowded landscape? The Coexistence Project, launched in 2016, tries to tackle this difficult question. This landscape is a test case for answering this question, with some of the highest documented densities of elephants living alongside people. Programs to understand how subsistence farming communities are living with elephants and the challenges faced by both species go hand in hand with those supporting the people. Beginning with support focused on pre-schools and primary education, the goal is to eventually encircle the protected areas with community-based conservation initiatives built upon sustainable, conflict-free livelihoods. When people thrive, so can the elephants.
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Selected Publications
de Silva, S., Ruppert, K., Knox, J., Davis, E. O., Weerathunga, U. S., & Glikman, J. A. (2023). Experiences and emotional responses of farming communities living with Asian Elephants in Southern Sri Lanka. Trees, Forests and People, 14, 100441. doi: 10.1016/j.tfp.2023.100441 [Full text + PDF]
Madsen, A.E., Minge, C., Pushpakumara, T.V. et al. (2022). "Strategies of protected area use by Asian elephants in relation to motivational state and social affiliations". Sci Rep 12, 18490. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22989-1 [Full text] [PDF]
de Silva, S., P. Leimgruber (2019). “Demographic tipping points as early indicators of vulnerability for slow-breeding megafaunal populations.” Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, 7, 171. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00171 [Full text + PDF] [Blog]
King, L., M. Pardo, S. Weerathunga, T.V. Kumara, N. Jayasena, J. Soltis, S. de Silva (2018). “Wild Sri Lankan elephants retreat from the sound of disturbed Asian honey bees.” Current Biology, 28:2, R64-R65. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.018 [Full text] [PDF] [Press]
Greggor, A.L., Berger-Tal, O., Blumstein, D.T., et al. (2016). "Research Priorities from Animal Behaviour for Maximising Conservation Progress." Trends in Ecology & Evolution. [Full text]
de Silva, Shermin (2016). "Need for longitudinal studies of Asian wildlife in the face of crises." Global Ecology and Conservation. 6: 276-285. [Full text]
de Silva S., U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara (2014). “Morphometrics of a wild Asian elephant exhibiting disproportionate dwarfism.” BMC Research Notes. 7:933. [Full text] [BioRxiv version] [Blog] [Press]
de Silva, S. (2014). “The elephant attribute recording system (EARS): A tool for individual-based research on Asian elephants.” Gajah. 40:46. [PDF]
de Silva S., C.E. Webber, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara, D.K. Weerakoon, G. Wittemyer (2013) “Demographic Variables for Wild Asian Elephants Using Longitudinal Observations.” PLoS ONE 8(12): e82788. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082788. [Full text & PDF]
de Silva, S., A. Ranjeewa, & S. Kryazhimskiy, 2011. “The dynamics of social networks among female Asian elephants.” BMC Ecology, 11, 17. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17. [Full text & PDF] [Blog] [Press]
de Silva, S.R., A. Ranjeewa, D. K. Weerakoon 2011. “Demography of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Uda Walawe National Park, Sri Lanka based on identified individuals.” Biological Conservation, 144, 1742-1752. [PDF] [Online] [Blog].
Madsen, A.E., Minge, C., Pushpakumara, T.V. et al. (2022). "Strategies of protected area use by Asian elephants in relation to motivational state and social affiliations". Sci Rep 12, 18490. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22989-1 [Full text] [PDF]
de Silva, S., P. Leimgruber (2019). “Demographic tipping points as early indicators of vulnerability for slow-breeding megafaunal populations.” Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, 7, 171. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00171 [Full text + PDF] [Blog]
King, L., M. Pardo, S. Weerathunga, T.V. Kumara, N. Jayasena, J. Soltis, S. de Silva (2018). “Wild Sri Lankan elephants retreat from the sound of disturbed Asian honey bees.” Current Biology, 28:2, R64-R65. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.018 [Full text] [PDF] [Press]
Greggor, A.L., Berger-Tal, O., Blumstein, D.T., et al. (2016). "Research Priorities from Animal Behaviour for Maximising Conservation Progress." Trends in Ecology & Evolution. [Full text]
de Silva, Shermin (2016). "Need for longitudinal studies of Asian wildlife in the face of crises." Global Ecology and Conservation. 6: 276-285. [Full text]
de Silva S., U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara (2014). “Morphometrics of a wild Asian elephant exhibiting disproportionate dwarfism.” BMC Research Notes. 7:933. [Full text] [BioRxiv version] [Blog] [Press]
de Silva, S. (2014). “The elephant attribute recording system (EARS): A tool for individual-based research on Asian elephants.” Gajah. 40:46. [PDF]
de Silva S., C.E. Webber, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara, D.K. Weerakoon, G. Wittemyer (2013) “Demographic Variables for Wild Asian Elephants Using Longitudinal Observations.” PLoS ONE 8(12): e82788. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082788. [Full text & PDF]
de Silva, S., A. Ranjeewa, & S. Kryazhimskiy, 2011. “The dynamics of social networks among female Asian elephants.” BMC Ecology, 11, 17. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17. [Full text & PDF] [Blog] [Press]
de Silva, S.R., A. Ranjeewa, D. K. Weerakoon 2011. “Demography of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Uda Walawe National Park, Sri Lanka based on identified individuals.” Biological Conservation, 144, 1742-1752. [PDF] [Online] [Blog].
