ELEPHANT CORRIDOR (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Efforts to reconnect elephant corridors are crucial for preserving biodiversity and ensuring the viability of the Asian elephant population. However, careful planning is essential to execute this endeavor effectively.

Elephant Corridor

• About: It can be defined as a narrow stretch of land that facilitates the movement of elephants between two or more adjacent habitats that are conducive to their well-being.
• State Wise Distribution: West Bengal takes the lead with 26 corridors, making up 17% of the total.

oEast central India -  52 corridors, The North East region - 48 corridors, Southern India - 32 corridors., and Northern India - 18 corridors.

• Objective:

oWildlife corridors facilitate animal movement between habitat patches; and in the process maintain the long-term demographic and genetic viability of elephant populations.

oIt is amply recognized that demographic isolation and lack of genetic viability could threaten elephant populations with extinction risks. Considering this, securing elephant corridors is a central strategy for elephant conservation in the country.

• Notification: Each state could notify the area of the corridor falling in their respective jurisdiction as conservation reserve under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Geographic Information Systems

• About: GIS are computer-based tools used to store, visualize, analyze, and interpret geographic data.