Asian Elephants face many threats driven by human impact, particularly loss and fragmentation of habitat and human-wildlife conflict. Elephants have lost much of the rainforest habitat they once roamed to urban development and agriculture. They now increasingly venture into developed areas in search of food and water, where they can damage infrastructure, eat crops, and sometimes kill people, leading to elephants being killed in return.  
Elephants are further poached for ivory, bushmeat, leather, and to use their skin as traditional medicine.  
At Taronga we have made a conservation commitment to the Asian Elephant. Taronga’s successful breeding program, driven by our experts and partner zoos, is a vital part of the international effort for this endangered species. We further support elephant conservation throughout both Asia and Africa, including habitat protection and restoration, anti-poaching efforts, and community initiatives to reduce human-wildlife conflict.