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Elephants are among the most popular animals on Earth. People are endlessly fascinated by them, and there are numerous species of elephants. Many people flock to the zoo to see local elephants, but there is nothing quite like seeing them in the wild. The vast majority of elephants are located in Africa. Elephants are inextricably tied with Africa, and there are many people who visit Africa every year to go on safaris. Unfortunately, given that Africa is still a developing part of the world, it is a haven for poachers, who are people who try to kill elephants to sell their tusks for ivory.
It can be difficult to determine the exact number of elephants in each country, as elephants do not respect national borders. On the other hand, it is estimated that Botswana has the most elephants of any country on Earth. It is estimated that Botswana has approximately 13,000 elephants living within its borders. It is also considered to be one of the very last strongholds for elephants on Earth, as the poaching of elephants continues to destroy what remains of African elephant populations. Even though there is a lot of protection in place for elephants all over the world, including in African countries, it can be difficult for disorganized, corrupt African governments to compete with the resources that the poachers can bring to the table.
Given that you can pass from Africa to Asia by land, there are a lot of people who wonder if Asia is home to any elephant populations. Yes, there are elephants that live in Asia, but there are not as many elephants in Asia as there are in Africa. A significant number of Asian elephants are located in India, but India's elephant population has taken a nosedive during the past few years as well. Right now, there are approximately 27,000 elephants living in India, but this is significantly fewer than there were just a decade ago. About a decade ago, approximately one million elephants were living in the wild in India. The population has decreased dramatically because of poaching. It is a significant problem in Asia.
Yes, there are some elephants living in the United States, but they do not live in the wild. Wild elephants are not native to North America. Therefore, the elephants that live in the United States are located in zoos. They are among the most attractive exhibits in local zoos across the United States, and there are people who fly into local zoos just to see elephants. There is some debate regarding whether elephants should be kept in a zoo, but the reality is that this is one of the best ways to preserve them. Given that the wild is not safe for elephants, many people view keeping elephants in zoos as a way of keeping the population alive.
Country | # of Elephants | Year of Estimate | Additional Details |
---|---|---|---|
Botswana | 130,000 | 2021 | |
Zimbabwe | 100,000 | 2021 | |
Tanzania | 60,000 | 2021 | |
Kenya | 35,500 | 2022 | |
South Africa | 24,000 | 2020 | |
Namibia | 24,000 | 2023 | The latest estimates indicate that more than 24 000 elephants can be found in Namibia, with a popula... |
Zambia | 22,000 | 2016 | |
India | 17,000 | 2021 | Population estimated to range from 17,000 to 26,000 |
Mozambique | 10,800 | 2022 | |
Gabon | 10,000 | 2020 | Population estimated to range from 10,000 to 15,000 |
Sri Lanka | 7,500 | 2021 | |
DR Congo | 7,000 | 2021 | |
Cameroon | 6,500 | 2021 | |
Uganda | 4,864 | 2016 | |
Thailand | 3,800 | Unrecorded | |
Angola | 3,395 | Unrecorded | |
Myanmar | 2,000 | Unrecorded | |
Malaysia | 1,220 | 2022 | Population estimated to range from 1,220 to 1,700 |
Indonesia | 1,200 | 2022 | Population estimated to range from 1,200 to 2,400 |
Ethiopia | 800 | 2016 | |
Malawi | 800 | 2016 | |
Laos | 800 | 2022 | |
Chad | 750 | 2016 | |
Bhutan | 678 | 2018 | |
Bangladesh | 457 | 2016 | The total number of elephants in Bangladesh is 457. This includes 268 resident wild elephants, 93 mi... |
Nepal | 405 | 2020 | The total number of elephants in Nepal is estimated to be between 405 and 415. This includes the wil... |
Nigeria | 400 | Unrecorded | |
Cambodia | 400 | Population estimated to range from 400 to 600 | |
Mali | 250 | 2016 | |
China | 200 | Unrecorded | Population estimated to range from 200 to 250 |
Vietnam | 100 | 2021 | |
Total | 476,819 |