12-year study finds declining elephant numbers lead to fragmented social networks

Detailed summary

A study in Udawalawe National Park indicates that dwindling elephant groups result in significant social vulnerabilities. With fewer individuals, elephants transition from larger…

Elephants are known for their strong family bonds and complex social relationships, but declining populations may be putting these connections at risk. A 12-year study in Sri Lanka has found that the gradual loss of individual elephants can eventually trigger a sudden breakdown in their social networks, leaving surviving animals in smaller and more isolated communities.The research, led by scientists at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) and published in the journal Science on November 12, 2026, examined more than 440 wild female Asian elephants at Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka.

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