What does the future hold for Asian elephants and their relationship with humans?

Sri Lanka. The tusker named Wasana (53) is the temple elephant at the Kataragama temple complex which has a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple and a mosque. Every temple in Sri Lanka tries to have its own elephant. Wasana is the most important and revered elephant in the country. © Brent Stirton / Getty Images for National Geographic Magazin

Perpignan – What does the future hold for Asian elephants? That is the question behind South African photographer Brent Stirton's photo series at the Visa pour l'image festival in Perpignan, in the south of France.

"This piece is really about the future of Asian elephants," he told RFI English, adding that there is a lot of conflict between humans and elephants.

Asian elephants today are defined by long-standing cultural and economic factors, as well as their religious relationship with humans, Stirton says.

Sri Lanka is struggling to manage its elephant population because it has a small landmass and because of the economic situation in the country.

Sri Lanka. A bachelor herd of wild elephants at a garbage site close to a national park. The animals know that temples dump fruit and vegetables here every day, so they leave the park to enjoy a different diet. © Brent Stirton / Getty Images for National Geographic Magazine

"When that happens, the environment always goes to the end of the queue in terms of priorities," he said.

"At the same time, India overtook China this year as the world's most populous nation. So what does that mean? I mean, how many people can you really have and still think about elephants?"

India. At the Mysore Dasara festival which attracts massive crowds that can traumatize the animals, two elephants are comforting each other by touching trunks. © Brent Stirton / Getty Images for National Geographic Magazine

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► Visa pour l'Image runs in Perpignan from 2 to 17 September 2023. It will also be on display at La Villette in Paris from 16 to 30 September.