Asian Elephants Deal with Climate Change - Yvonne Rennesia Gulo

Climate change is a crucial topic. Not only the people in the society, even the governors are trying to solve this problem as it is also affecting animals and not just the citizens. Asian Elephants are one of the species that become endangered. These elephants were the largest land mammal in Asia. They were more sociable, forming groups of six to seven related females that are led by the oldest female. The fact that Asian Elephants are found in India, more than half of the origin population. Asian elephants are highly intelligent animals characterized by strong family bonds.

What makes these elephants so special is that an adult bull Asian elephant can weigh over 5,000 kg, Asian elephants have one more toenail on each foot than African elephants, They drink up to 200 liters of water per day, and The Asian elephant is an important cultural and religious icon. Estimated in the wild: Fewer than 50,000. 150 kg is an amount for them to eat plant materials per day.

Many of the countries where the species still occurs hold wild populations numbering just a few hundred, usually in small, fragmented groups. Climate change hit them too. Given their sensitivity to temperature, Asian Elephant populations have been shown to decline throughout periods of higher than normal temperatures. Climate change also results in invasive plant species out-competing the Asian Elephant's native food sources. Asian elephants also need some fresh water as their reproduction, migration, and daily activities all center around freshwater. Droughts in many parts of countries because climate change really interrupts their lifecycle.

We can do some actions to help them survive, such as :

• Secure fresh water in areas that are experiencing drought or are projected to experience drought

• Monitor and control invasive species

• Increase the extent of protected areas to include stepping stones, movement corridors and climate refuge

• Doing Go Green for Climate Change

• Help people adapt to the changing climate by promoting alternative livelihoods