A Study On The Social Factors Of Asian Elephants' Distribution And Change In China

The study for Asian elephant in history period is an important research subject in animal geography of history, and be noticed by the scholar of physical geography of history, also is an impressive interdisciplinary issue for academe at present.In history period, Asian elephants distributed most regions of China abroadly. While, its just can be found in some areas where located southwest and south part of Yunnan province now. So, its are the wild animals of first-grade State protection, and be ranked as endangered breed of wild animals for CITES. The distribution area of Asian elephants havd had great changed in history period, the most of involved research in academe are profound impacted by some scholars like Wen huanran professor especially, general hold the view that the north line of Asian elephants distract regions was southward in history period, and the influence factor include the change of climate and human activities. But I think the analyze was sweeping appreciably, short for deep and detailing. The doctoral dissertation try to break the predecessors’research, based on the basis of many-sided history records to study the change of Asian elephants distribution regions in period of history, expect get some new viewpoint.Based on grasp the forestall scholars’research achievement roundly and hold as much as possible history records, the doctoral dissertation used the study methods such as historical geography and zoology, recruit the change of Asian elephants distribution regions in Chinese district in the history relatively systematically and seriously. Used the method of regionalism, set five regions:the basin of Yellow River\the basin of Huai River\the basin of Yangtze river\the basin of Pearl River and the Yunan-Guizhou plateau, recruit and reappear the Asian elephants distribution regions in history period clearly, and the change process from north to south step by step, reveal the change of Asian elephants distribution regions is continuity for space and time.The selected topic follow the as meticulous as possible criterion to research Asian elephants distribution regions and it’s transition in history, by analysis to emphasize the factors of influential for change Asian elephants distribution regions isn’t equal in each area and period, couldn’t lump under one head. While, the influence come into being by human activities about social require run through all the time. In a certain sense, the strive for the selected topic have constructive, the research is amenable, and is an obvious advance compare with the predecessors.When the doctoral dissertation dissect tame elephants\foster elephants\hunt elephants\ivory trade\use ivory and other human activities so that acquire the resource from Asian elephants, by recruit all kinds of demand history, deeply discuss the influence from kinds of the activities about demand, embody five aspects mainly:(1)the action about tame Asian elephants undergo demand for tame to protect for tame;(2)foster elephants transition from stocking in the wild to captive breeding to keep in nature protection area;(3)hunt elephants from amuse to poach for benefit;(4)the ivory trade from present tribute develop lawless trade;(5)use ivory from faintly starting step to inherit the artistry. The doctoral dissertation with the point of view about human demand, based on full and accurate history records, combine the tame geography and the Asian elephants peculiarity on ecology and ethology, afresh elucidate the above demand activities roundly, hold the view that with the demand for the tame elephants and ivory increase and innovate, the influence of Asian elephants’ living environment and population quantity is difficult to changeover gradually in period of history, at present, its have become one of endangered species. It is the new perceive for the influential factors about the change of Asian elephants’distribution regions, also is the innovate point of the selected topic.When dissect the human demand, as to analysis every kind of demand action, the doctoral dissertation take the method of choose individual cases to study, setting five individual cases(every case is typical and elucidate):(1)the taming elephants in Ming dynasty;(2)the hunting elephants in Song dynasty;(3)the business of sculpture ivory and the social consumption for sculptural ivory in Song dynast;(4)\the consumption of officers’memo card which made by ivory in Tang dynasty;(5)the ivory trading and its’circulating process in Song dynasty, with as much as possible history records, combine the Asian elephants’characteristics of biology, discuss and analysis the influence for human social demands made to change Asian elephants distribution regions in Chinese history is gradually and significance.With the study roundly and meticulous, The selected topic have conclude two main ideas:(1)the change process(southward little by little)of Asian elephants distribution regions from Huang River basin to the Yunan-Guizhou plateau in Chinese history is successive on region and time;(2)the influence based on climate change(warm or cold) was exaggerated by some scholars for the change of Asian elephants distribution regions, the influence based on human activities was paid much attention, but the the influence based on human demand was neglect.Study of the doctoral dissertation is the newest in academic field, it will be used for reference as to the relevant research and the protection for Asian elephants in nature protection area where locate Yunnan province now. While, with the limit of collect history records\technological means\the level of study, part of details are attend to one thing and lose another, some incomplete contents need improve constant based on the new research results still.