Sri Lanka Elephant Decline Fractures Social Networks

A 12-year study of more than 440 female Asian elephants at Sri Lanka’s Udawalawe National Park found that sustained population losses eventually pushed their social networks past a tipping point. As deaths and departures outpaced newcomers, large, connected communities broke into more numerous, smaller and less-connected groups; even females observed throughout the study showed social ties weakening. Researchers say declining food availability, including the spread of invasive plants, may make the park less attractive to incoming elephants and reduce calf survival, though losses also include mortality and permanent emigration. The findings suggest that gradual demographic decline can undermine the relationships elephants rely on for information and care, potentially leaving fragmented groups less resilient to further threats.