Endangered Elephants: Past, Present and Future is a comprehensive and deeply insightful compilation of the proceedings from the International Elephant Foundation’s landmark 2003 symposium held in Sri Lanka. Edited by renowned conservationist Jayantha Jayewardene, this volume explores the complex and increasingly urgent challenges surrounding human–elephant relationships and the escalating conflicts that affect communities and elephant populations across Asia and Africa.
 
Bringing together 220 participants from 23 countries—including researchers, academics, wildlife managers, policymakers, and field conservationists—the symposium offered a rare convergence of diverse viewpoints and practical experiences. The presentations included in this book examine why traditional conservation strategies have struggled to deliver meaningful results, despite abundant research and growing public interest. They delve into the realities of crop raiding, habitat loss, poaching, elephant behavior, and community impact, highlighting the nuanced dynamics that shape modern conservation challenges.
 
The book also documents active discussions, case studies, and region-specific insights that shed light on both the failures and the possibilities for change. Emphasizing the need for pragmatic, evidence-based conservation plans, it calls on governments, organizations, and specialists to reassess their methods and collaborate more effectively. The final section features the symposium’s collective recommendations as well as a powerful letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, underscoring the global importance of elephant conservation.
 
Richly informative and grounded in real-world experience, Endangered Elephants: Past, Present and Future serves as an essential reference for conservationists, wildlife professionals, environmental policymakers, academics, and anyone interested in the long-term survival of elephants and the human communities that coexist with them.