Marsh elephant ("Elephas maximus vil-aliya") roams in the Mahaweli river area. Palaeoloxodon recki is an extinct species related to the Asian elephant "Elephas maximus". The number of Sumatran elephants ("Elephas maximus sumatranus") living in the region has decreased. The population of Indian elephants, "Elephas maximus indicus" (E), totals several hundred animals. "Elephas maximus" is listed on CITES Appendix I. A few Asian elephants ("Elephas maximus") still inhabit the forests of Bundala. Indian Elephant "(Elephas maximus)" is found in good numbers within the sanctuary. The Asian elephant ("Elephas maximus") is the closest extant relative of the mammoths. The Indian elephant ("Elephas Maximus") is the major threatened species found in the sanctuary. More recently, Asian elephants ("Elephas maximus") were shown to exhibit similar insightful problem solving. As a mammoth, "M. lamarmorai"'s closest living relative is the modern Asian elephant ("Elephas maximus"). "Elephas maximus" is listed on CITES Appendix I. Sumatran elephants are protected under Indonesia law.