Shrinking elephant populations fracture social bonds, study of 440 females finds

Researchers examining 440 female elephants in Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka found that social networks weaken as population numbers fall. As groups shrink, elephants shift from large communities into smaller, more isolated subgroups. This fragmentation reduces their ability to care for young and find food effectively. The study also suggests that once a critical social threshold is crossed, reversing the breakdown becomes increasingly difficult.