By Thitsa (MNA)

THE northernmost part of Myanmar is rich in natural beauty with its snow-capped mountain ranges, while the southernmost part of the coun­try features long coastlines and numerous islands, showcasing both terrestrial and marine splendour. In the southern region lies the Taninthayi Nature Reserve, which remains lush and verdant, home to a diverse range of species, ecosystems, and habitats. This area, where forests meet the sea, supports the survival and development of a wide variety of botanical, zoological and marine life, further high­lighting the natural beauty of Myanmar.

The government sets objectives to establish natural land areas to ensure the sustainability of biodiversity and ecosys­tems. The Taninthayi Nature Reserve was established on 30 March 2005 to conserve the tropical evergreen forest ecosystems and biodiversity in the northern and east­ern parts of the Taninthayi Region, which serve as shelters for Asian elephants. It is also the first conservation area in the Taninthayi Region.

The eastern part of the Taninthayi Nature Reserve, which borders Thai­land, is a hilly and mountainous area. The mountain ranges run from north to south. The slopes gradually descend from west to east, with elevations ranging from 15 meters to 1,400 metres. Within the reserve area, there are 32 watersheds. The rivers and streams in the northern, western, and southern parts of the reserve flow into the Dawei River, while those in the eastern part flow into the Taninthayi River.

In the Taninthayi Nature Reserve, there are different types of forests such as evergreen forest, mangrove, and hill forest. The area is mostly covered by closed forest (46.67 per cent) and open forest (29.76 per cent). A total of 384 plant species, 90 orchid species, 30 bamboo species, 17 cane species, and other rare herbal plants have been recorded in the reserve. Many wild animals, plant spe­cies, and endangered animal species can survive in the area, while the reserve is proudly known as an important habitat and sanctuary for Asian elephants.

The reserve boasts the endangered Indonesian tiger species and Asian ele­phants. A total of 244 bird species have been recorded in the area, including three species that are endangered and 10 near-threatened species. Moreover, the reserve also boasts 30 amphibian species and 36 reptile species, and Asian elephants.

There are two main species of ele­phants in the world — the Asian elephant and the African elephant. In Myanmar, a population of Asian elephants ranging from at least 45 to over 64 has been re­corded in the Taninthayi Nature Reserve located in the southern part of the coun­try. A 2011 survey revealed that approxi­mately 90 per cent of the reserve area was home to this number of elephants. However, to date, there is no documented data confirming wheth­er the popula­tion has in­creased or declined. In 2000, scientists reclassified African elephants into two distinct species: the larger Afri­can bush elephant (or savanna elephant) and the smaller African forest elephant.

African Elephant

The African elephant is the largest living land mammal, weighing 8,000 kilo­grammes and standing 10 to 13 feet tall at their shoulders. There are over 150,000 muscles in the trunk alone. Both male and female African elephants have curved ivory tusks that grow throughout their lives. Their tusks are used to fight, dig, and strip bark off trees. Large, thin ears radiate heat to help the elephant stay cool in the intense heat. African elephants can hold up to eight litres of water in their trunks and use their trunks as a snorkel when swimming.

Asian Elephant

The Asian Elephants are found mostly in India, and also in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malay­sia, Vietnam and Laos. The Asian Elephants reach heights of around 10 feet. The Average life expec­tancy of a Myan­mar elephant is approx­i m a t e l y 60 years, and the pregnant period is between 18- 22 months. An elephant gives birth about six times in its lifetime, usually having one baby each time. Male elephants have tusks, while female elephants do not. Fe­male elephants have a rounded forehead and smaller ears. In Myanmar, elephants are used for logging and in the tourism industry, and the people have protected elephants since the time of ancient kings up to the present day.

Habits of elephants

Elephants live between 60 to 100 years. Male elephants become fully grown between the ages of 30 and 40. A newborn elephant weighs over 260 pounds. An ele­phant can grow up to 10 feet tall and can weigh up to 6 tonnes (11,000 pounds), and their size and shape vary depending on the region they live in. The elephant’s skin is 0.98 inches thick. Its wrinkled skin can hold 10 times more water than the skin of other animals. An elephant eats about 150 kilogrammes (around 330 pounds) of food each day. About half of the food it eats is not fully digested and passes out of its body. At the age of two, elephants begin to grow tusks. These tusks help them eat and defend themselves from ene­mies. However, because of their tusks and thick skin, elephants are often hunted and killed. Elephants usually live in groups of 5 to 20, but some may live alone as soli­tary males. Male elephants can become aggressive during mating season, and during this time, they may act violently for about two weeks. Elephants search for food during both day and night, and they only sleep for about three hours a day. Even though their eyesight is weak, they have a strong sense of smell and hearing. They also have a memory as good as that of a five-year-old child.

From 2006 to 2016, re­searchers counted elephants over two years. They studied a large grassland area of 540,000 square kilometres across 18 Af­rican countries. They found that one-third of the elephants, about 144,000, had been killed. They also estimated that the remain­ing 430,000 elephants in Africa could be killed within the next 10 years. This prediction, made for the years 2016 to 2026, is now proving to be true as the number of wild elephants continues to decrease.

Asian elephants are also facing hunting and killing every year. In countries like India, Myanmar, and other ASEAN nations, people are working together to protect wild Asian elephants from extinction. In Myanmar, elephants live in re­gions such as Ayeyawady, Bago, Sagaing, Kachin State, and the Shan Yoma area. To reduce poaching, the Forest Depart­ment and NGOs are working together. These efforts help pro­tect not only elephants but also other wild animals and various species.

In 1879, during the Kon­boung era, the Elephant Pres­ervation Law was enacted and amended in 1883. Elephants are classified as fully protected animals under the Protection of Wildlife and Conservation of Natural Areas Law, enacted in 1994. According to surveys, there were over 10,000 wild elephants in Myanmar in 1941, before the country gained independence. Between 2001 and 2003, a field survey was conducted in coop­eration with the Smithsonian In­stitution (SI), and the estimated number of wild elephants was around 5,000. By 2018, records showed that only about 2,000 wild elephants remained. To protect wild elephants, Myanmar began setting up protected areas start­ing in 1927. In 2014, six elephant conservation areas were des­ignated, covering a total area of 9,205.51 square miles. From 2010 to 2014, there were 72 crim­inal cases recorded in Myanmar related to the illegal killing of wild elephants. Among these, 26 cases were due to the demand for tusks, skin, and meat, show­ing that many elephants were hunted for these body parts.

After India, Myanmar is the country with the second-larg­est population of elephants. Wild elephants live across the country, from the northern to the southern regions. In the Tanin­thayi Nature Reserve, Asian el­ephants continue to survive and thrive through the collaboration of Myanmar and Thailand.

In Myanmar, 22 elephant camps have been established. The Ministry of Natural Re­sources and Environmental Conservation has set this goal to involve the public in conser­vation efforts and raise aware­ness about the importance of elephants in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

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In countries where natural forests thrive, the ability to pro­tect elephants reflects the health of their ecosystems. Protecting wildlife, safe forests, and wet­land areas is often recognized as a sign of a healthy environ­ment. In Myanmar, many safe forests and wetlands continue to develop well, creating many opportunities for wild elephants to live and survive. The presence of wild elephants in a natural re­serve shows that a forest ecosys­tem is rich and healthy. Among large mammals, elephants are the strongest and have a wider range of habitats than tigers. They tend to live long-term in a well-protected natural reserve with abundant food. Neigh­bouring countries earn foreign income from elephant-related tourism. In Myanmar, elephant conservation supports 22 tour­ism projects. To help elephant populations grow, it is especially important to stop poaching, and all citizens need to be aware of and follow conservation efforts.

Some of the wild elephants from Bago Yoma enter Okkan and Thonze townships near Yangon, and the departmental officials, NGOs and residents cooperate to reduce human-el­ephant conflicts. Conservation of wild elephants in Taninthayi Nature Reserve protects the beauty of the reserve, whereas deforestation and impact on wild elephants affect the natural en­vironment.

The forests in 32 watershed areas in Taninthayi Nature Reserve are home to Asian elephants, and the Taninthayi Nature Reserve, covered with mangrove, evergreen forest, and hill forests, is a haven for Asian elephants, promoting the dignity of the country.

Translated by KTZH