Conservation genetics of Asian Elephant in Southern India

The Nilgiris-Eastern Ghats region of Southern India supports the largest wild population of Asian elephants in the world and therefore has critical importance for the long-term viability of this species. Male elephants in these regions have been decimated by poaching and studies have indicated low levels of genetic diversity. Researchers from Pondicherry University developed a DNA database of individual elephants in the NEG using DNA extracted from elephant dung in order to assess the genetic diversity of the population, and to compare the landscape genetics of NEG elephant population to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) population further south.

IEF #1020

Project Years: 2015

Project Partners:
Dr. Priya Davidar, Pondicherry University