Feb.
4, 2013 — Extremes of temperature and rainfall are affecting the survival
of elephants working in timber camps in Myanmar and can double the risk of
death in calves aged up to five, new research from the University of Sheffield
has found.
With
climate change models predicting higher temperatures and months without
rainfall; this could decrease the populations of already endangered Asian
elephants.
The
researchers matched monthly climate records with data on birth and deaths, to
track how climate variation affects the chances of elephant survival.
It
is hoped this research -- which was published in the
journal Ecology -- will make a difference by highlighting the
importance of protecting vulnerable calves in captivity from the effects of
climate change
Experts
at the University of Sheffield accessed unique recordings of the life and
deaths of more than 8,000 elephants from Myanmar spanning three generations
throughout almost a century.
The
elephants in the database are semi-captive animals working in the timber
industry by pushing and dragging logs.
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