July 23 2026

July 23, 2026

The Elephant News Service is provided by Save the Elephants for elephant lovers, scientists and conservationists who want to stay informed on the latest elephant news from reputable media sources worldwide. The stories are presented in no particular order.

As Sri Lanka braces for El Niño, national parks are a concern amidst encroachment

Kamanthi Wickramasinghe, Mongabay (U.S), July 21, 2026

Around 14% of Sri Lanka’s total land area is dedicated to wildlife protected areas, which includes more than 20 national parks. However, due to natural and anthropogenic factors, protected species such as leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) and elephants (Elephas maximus maximus) living in these protected areas face continuous threats as their habitats continue to shrink.

In 2007, scientists played the sound of disturbed bees to wild elephants and watched many flee, inspiring farmers in more than 20 countries to use live beehive fences to help protect crops

The Times of India (India), July 21, 2026

For many years, farmers in rural areas that share land with elephants have faced repeated problems each harvest season. Huge elephants eat large amounts of crops at night. Traditional deterrents such as banging metal objects and using lights become less effective over time because elephants grow accustomed to them.

Could elephants and mammoths interbreed? Could there have been a 'mammophant'?

Debbie Graham, Discover Wildlife (U.K), July 20, 2026

The first significant factor is the two species (and in elephant terms, we’re talking Asian elephants, because African elephants were of course restricted to Africa) almost certainly never met, even though they overlapped in time, with mammoths only going extinct some 4,000 years ago.

China’s wild Asian elephant population grows to nearly 400 through conservation efforts

TV Brics (China), July 21, 2026

The population of wild Asian elephants in China has grown from around 150 in the 1980s to nearly 400 today, according to a report by the Xinhua Research Institute. As reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS. The increase in numbers is the result of decades of efforts to protect habitats and conserve biodiversity in the south-western province of Yunnan.

Supreme Court upholds removal of commercial activity from elephant corridor

Abraham Thomas, Hindustan Times (India), July 21, 2026

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Madras high court order directing the removal of all commercial activity from a designated elephant corridor in Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats, while permitting affected persons to seek an alternative source of livelihood from the state government.

Thanks to Ele-Friendly Bus: Meegolla School students now take bus ride through ‘elephant corridor’

Nishantha Hewage, Daily Mirror (Sri lanka), July 22, 2026

In a bid to reduce the Human-Elephant Conflict, the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) following a request from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) launched SLWCS’ second phase of the project “EleFriendly Bus Service” on July 6, 2026 at Kandy district’s Meegolla Junior School.

Wild Elephant Herd Enters Vizianagaram from Manyam

Andhra Pradesh, Deccan Herald (India), July 22, 2026

A herd of wild elephants has entered Vizianagaram district from the neighbouring Manyam district, raising concern among farmers and residents. The elephants have been moving through agricultural fields, sparking fear in several villages. According to officials, the herd is currently roaming in Terlam and Badangi mandals.