Sri Lankan Elephant mother and young, Wasgamuwa, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, ''Elephas maximus'' has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years. The species is pre-eminently threatened by habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation.

''Elephas maximus maximus'' is the type subspecies of the Asian elephant, first described by Carl Linnaeus under.. more