Organized under the banner of “Pran-Prakriti Surakkhay Sammilito Andolon,” the participants at the program informed that around 22 wild elephants died last year and four wild elephants died this month. Most of the wild elephants were killed deliberately by shooting, poisoning or electrocution, they alleged. According to a publication titled “Status of Asian Elephants in Bangladesh,” elephants belong to two species – Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana). The IUCN Red List of Bangladesh categorized Asian elephants as “critically endangered” as the species of wild animal is now at risk of extinction. The survey said there are 268 resident wild elephants, 93 migratory elephants, and 96 captive elephants in Bangladesh.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 26, 2020 09:45 UTC