Asian Elephant: Key Facts:

• Current Global population: 50,000 – 60,000, of which > 60% are in India.
• States with Highest Population: Karnataka (6000+), followed by Assam (5,700+) and Kerala (3,000+) 
• Conservation status – IUCN: Endangered, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I, CITES: Appendix I, CMS: Appendix I.

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Project Elephant: Protecting Asian Elephants, Habitat Conservation

• Aim: Launched in 1992 as a centrally sponsored scheme to protect and conserve wild Asian elephants recognizing their ecological, cultural, and economic value for India.
• Objectives: (1) To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors, (2) To address issues of man-animal conflict, (3) Welfare of captive elephants.

Project Elephant Successes: Expanding Asian Elephant Population, Reserves, Corridors

• Expanding Asian Elephant Population: India is home to approximately 30,000 Asian Elephants, making it the country with the largest population of this species in the world (60% of all Asian elephants).
• Elephant Reserves: Expanded from 9 to 33 at present, covering over 75,000 sq km in 16 states and UTs.
• Elephant Corridors: The project has identified more than 100 elephant corridors, which are crucial for the movement and survival of elephants. 
• Protection from poaching and other threats deployment: For eg. Project Elephant has been formally implementing MIKE (Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants) Programme by CITES.
• Provides financial and technical support to major elephant bearing states in India.
• Other measures undertaken: Gaj Yatra (awareness program), Gaj Awards, Elephant task force, Elephant declared as the national heritage animal etc.

Project Elephant Challenges: Habitat Loss, Human-Elephant Conflict, Poaching, Exploitation

• No statutory status to Elephant reserves, unlike Project Tiger.
• Habitat loss and fragmentation: Development projects like mining, dams, roads, and railways impacting elephant populations through habitat loss and fragmentation.
• Human-elephant conflict:  Population pressure and human settlements in elephant habitats increase conflict between humans and elephants.

• As per Wildlife Trust of India: Around 500,000 families are affected by conflict annually.

• Poaching and illegal trade: Illegal ivory and body parts trade threaten elephant populations severely.
• Captivity and exploitation: Elephant captivity and exploitation raise concerns about their welfare in tourism, entertainment, and commercial sectors. 

• The World Animal Protection found that 77% of elephants in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Laos, and Cambodia were treated appallingly at tourist venues.

• Climate Change Impacts: Climate change poses additional challenges for elephants in terms of habitat alteration and resource availability. 

• According to a report by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), a rise of 0.1 to 3oC, over the next 30 to 40 years, could wipe out the entire elephant population.

WAY FORWARD (INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS OF ELEPHANT TASK FORCE)

• Statutory authority in line with the National Tiger Conservation Authority, named as National Elephant Conservation Authority (NECA).
• Establish Elephant corridors: to avoid commercial constructions and human settlements, ensuring trouble-free movement and reducing conflict.
• Ramps and underpasses: to help elephants cross railway tracks safely and avoid collision with speeding trains, which is one of the major causes of elephant mortality. 

• Reserve-level research stations for the welfare of captive elephants and promoting India as a global leader in Asian elephant conservation.
• Elephant reserves as eco–sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Encourage Operational reserve-level management committee: With representatives from the state forest department, railways, district and block administration, local people’s elected representatives, researchers and non-profits.
• Landscape-level collaborative management starting from critical elephant habitats (protected areas) to elephant reserves (mixed landscape) and elephant landscapes (contiguous elephant population).
• Cooperative models of conservation to be ensured in human-dominated areas within elephant landscapes.

Conclusion

Project Elephant’s 30-year journey showcases India’s dedication to conserving its majestic elephants. Achievements in population management, habitat protection, and human-elephant conflict mitigation have been notable. By addressing challenges, implementing effective strategies, and considering future perspectives, we secure elephants’ survival and well-being in India, making a valuable contribution to global conservation.

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