In pictures: Counting elephants from treetops

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY MEL GUNASEKERA, Sri Lanka-environment-wildlife-elephant, FOCUS (FILES) This April 15, 2009 file photo shows a Sri Lankan mahout and a temple elephant taking part in a religious ritual at a temple in the Bellanvila suburb of Colombo as part of the traditional new year rituals. Wildlife groups in Sri Lanka are threatening to boycott the country's first national survey of wild elephants after a minister said it would be used to identify animals for use at temples. AFP PHOTO / Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI *** Local Caption *** 583030-01-08.jpg

August 12, 2011: A lone Sri Lankan elephant is seen at a wildlife sanctuary in Minneriya. Sri Lanka began surveying its wild elephant population living in national parks as part of a conservation drive to protect the dwindling animals. AFP PHOTO/Ishara S.???

August 12, 2011: A Sri Lankan elephant blows dirt over its head at a wildlife sanctuary in Minneriya. Sri Lanka's elephant population has dwindled to some 4,000 from a high of 12,000 recorded in 1900s, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.???

August 11, 2011: A herd of Asiatic wild elephants gather at a national park in Minneriya. Thousands of wildlife officials and volunteers have taken up positions on treetop huts near reservoirs and watering holes for Sri Lanka's first national count of its???

August 11, 2011: A herd of Asiatic wild elephants gather at a national park in Minneriya. The Wildlife Department says the three-day census through Sunday night is aimed at gathering information to help the government formulate a plan to protect the eleph???

August 11, 2011: A herd of Asiatic wild elephants gather at a national park in Minneriya. AP Photo/Chamila Karunarathne

August 11, 2011: Wildlife officials count as they monitor a herd of Asiatic wild elephants gather at a national park in Minneriya, some 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP Photo/Chamila Karunarathne