This is an example of an Asian elephant tied up in chains. Picture courtesy of www.webshots.com
The natural habitat of the Asian elephant is disappearing which causes problems for the lives of elephants. They are becoming extinct because of the lack of nutrition and food. The food from these areas is disappearing mainly because more cities and building are being built and other areas are just being cleared for crops. Since they can no longer look in forests for food they end up searching farmers crops for food and are usually shot or poisoned. Usually when elephants invade crops and villages like this, there is violence as people try to make the elephants leave using fire, guns, or bombs. Sometimes this is ends up injuring humans, as well as elephants.
They are also becoming extinct because of the beauty of their tusks. Poachers can only get the tusks by killing the elephants, which results in many deaths. Many Asian elephants are being killed for their ivory because it is an expensive product. They are also being shot plainly because they are feared by people. Though there are many humans that cause harm to these animals, there are many who try to protect and save them from all over the world.
Elephants are getting infectionous diseases that are quickly being spread throughout their young. The cattle disease is rare among elephants but was responsible for the deaths of many in Sri Lanka's USA Walawe National park.
Other than natural deaths another endangerment is physical abuse. Some elephants used in captivity are not being treated with care which sometimes results in death. People who care for the animals may not have proper training and may cause great harm towards the elephants of Asia.
They sometimes are overworked and are lacking food, nutrition, and medical care. When being trained they are often beaten. They have to live their lives through scorching heat to freezing cold. Many are chained be by two feet, so it isn't easy to make a great distance in a short amount of time. Some spend their whole lives in chains.
Some are tied up in chains because of the violent occurrences with humans, but being tied up might be better than being killed.