Selected Publications

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Popular Press

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Madsen, A. and de Silva, S. (2024). Societies with fission–fusion dynamics as complex adaptive systems: the importance of scale. Philosophical Transactions B, 379(1909), p.20230175. [Full text]
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de Silva, S., Ruppert, K., Knox, J., Davis, E.O., Weerathunga, U.S. and Glikman, J.A. (2023). Experiences and emotional responses of farming communities living with Asian Elephants in Southern Sri Lanka. Trees, Forests and People, 14, p.100441. [Full text]

de Silva, S., T. Wu, P. Nyhus et al. (2023). "Land-use change is associated with multi-century loss of elephant ecosystems in Asia." Scientific Reports 13, 5996. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-30650-8
[Full text] [PDF] [Blog]

Madsen, A.E., C. Minge, T.V. Pushpakumara, et al. (2022). "Strategies of protected area use by Asian elephants in relation to motivational state and social affiliations." Scientific Reports 12, 18490. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22989-1 [Full text] [PDF]
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de Silva, S., P. Leimgruber (2019). "Demographic tipping points as early indicators of vulnerability for slow-breeding megafaunal populations." Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, 7, 171. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00171 [Full text + PDF] [Blog]

de Silva S., V. Schmid, and G. Wittemyer (2017). "Fission–fusion processes weaken dominance networks of female Asian elephants in a productive habitat." Behavioral Ecology, 28:1, 243-252. doi:10.1093/beheco/arw153 [Full text] [PDF] [Blog]

de Silva S., C.E. Webber, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara, D.K. Weerakoon, G. Wittemyer (2013) "Demographic variables for Wild Asian Elephants Using Longitudinal Observations." PLoS ONE 8(12): e82788. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0082788. [Full text & PDF]

de Silva, S., & G. Wittemyer (2012). “A Comparison of Social Organization in Asian Elephants and African Savannah Elephants.” International Journal of Primatology, 33(5), 1125-1141. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-011-9564-1. [PDF] [Blog]

de Silva, S., A. Ranjeewa, & S. Kryazhimskiy, 2011. “The dynamics of social networks among female Asian elephants.” BMC Ecology, 11, 17. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17. [Full text & PDF] [Blog]

de Silva, S.R., A. Ranjeewa, D. K. Weerakoon 2011.  “Demography of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Uda Walawe National Park, Sri Lanka based on identified individuals.” Biological Conservation, 144, 1742-1752. [PDF] [Online] [Blog].

de Silva, S.R. 2010. “Acoustic communication in Elephas maximus maximus, the Asian elephant.” Behaviour, 147(7) 825-852. [PDF] [Blog].

South China Morning Post - 4/27/2023

• "Asian elephant habitat shrinks almost two-thirds in 300 years, including 94 percent drop in China, study finds." - South China Morning Post (27 April 2023)
• "Almost two thirds of elephant habitat lost across Asia, study finds" - CNN (27 April 2023)
• “Buzz off! Elephants give bees a wide birth” – Cosmos Magazine (26 January 2018)
• “Elephants are very scared of bees. That could save their lives” – New York Times (26 January 2018)
• “Asian elephant herds lack clear matriarchs, strict hierarchy: new study” – Mongabay (18 October 2016)
• “Dwarf Elephant Beats Up Big Rival” – BBC Earth (7 January 2015)
• “Elephant ‘Speaks’ Like A Human – Uses Trunk To Shape Sound” – National Geographic (2 November 2012).
• “Asian Elephants Are Social Networkers” – ScienceNOW (26 July 2011).
• “Elephant Study Reveals Social Bonds, Communication Skills” – Voice of America (radio, 29 August 2011).​