Elephant Conservation in India

World Elephant Day: A Global Conservation Effort

On 12th August 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) observed World Elephant Day in Coimbatore, with a focus on addressing human-elephant conflict, a growing challenge in wildlife conservation.

World Elephant Day was established on 12th August 2012 by Patricia Sims of Canada and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand. Since its inception, the initiative has been supported by over 100 organisations and has gained global recognition, aiming to raise awareness about the plight of elephants worldwide and promote sustainable conservation practices.

Key Facts About Elephants

Species and Identification

There are three species of elephants:

• African Savannah Elephant

• African Forest Elephant

• Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

African elephants have larger ears shaped like the African continent, while Asian elephants’ ears resemble the Indian subcontinent. Additionally, African elephants have two trunk fingers, whereas Asian elephants have only one.

Physical and Social Characteristics

The African Savannah Elephant is the world’s largest land animal. Elephants can live up to 65 years, with females reaching puberty around 11 and experiencing a 22-month gestation period. Under ideal conditions, elephant populations can grow at 7% annually.

Elephants live in matriarchal herds, led by the oldest and most experienced female. They communicate through sounds, body language, touch, scent, and seismic vibrations transmitted through the ground.

Tusks and Poaching Threat

Elephant tusks are enlarged incisor teeth, used for digging, stripping bark, and self-defense. Unfortunately, their tusks make them vulnerable to poaching, especially for the illegal ivory trade.

Population Decline and Conservation Urgency

Over the past century, 90% of African elephants have been lost, and Asian elephant populations have declined by at least 50%. This sharp decline is due to habitat loss, poaching, and escalating human-elephant conflict, often resulting from the disruption of traditional migration routes.

Elephant Conservation in India

India’s Elephant Heritage

India is home to over 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants, specifically the Indian elephant subspecies (Elephas maximus indicus). As India’s National Heritage Animal, elephants play a vital ecological role as:

• Keystone species – shaping ecosystems

• Umbrella species – protecting coexisting species

• Flagship species – icons of conservation efforts

They are essential for seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation in tropical forests.

Status and Distribution

Asian elephants are mostly found in southern, northeastern, and central India. Around 28,000–30,000 elephants live in fragmented populations, making habitat connectivity and corridor conservation critically important.

Legal and Policy Framework for Protection

• IUCN Red List: Endangered

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

• CITES: Appendix I – Prohibits international ivory trade

Project Elephant

Launched in 1992, Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme under MoEF&CC. It supports 22 states/UTs in elephant conservation, focusing on:

• Protection and anti-poaching

• Habitat restoration

• Conflict mitigation

• Captive elephant welfare

From FY 2023–24, Project Elephant and Project Tiger have been merged into a single integrated scheme: Project Tiger & Elephant.

Project RE-HAB

An innovative initiative by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) uses bee-fences (bee boxes placed along elephant paths) to deter elephants from human habitations. This eco-friendly method helps reduce both human and elephant fatalities.

Achievements in Elephant Conservation

• The wild elephant population in India increased from 27,669–27,719 (2007) to 29,964 (2017).

• India has designated 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 states, many of which overlap with Tiger Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Reserved Forests.

• 150 elephant corridors have been ground-validated across 15 states, ensuring safer migration routes.

• Adoption of geospatial tools like Land Use Land Cover (LULC) analysis and satellite data helps monitor habitat changes and identify threats.

• The MIKE Programme (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants) under CITES guides conservation with real-time data.

• Elephant Cell at Wildlife Institute of India aids in training, research, and technical support.

Major Challenges in Elephant Conservation

Train Collisions

Between 2009 and 2024, 186 elephants died in train accidents. High-speed trains, poor visibility, and tracks cutting through elephant corridors have made this a persistent issue, especially in Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, and Uttarakhand.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Urbanisation and infrastructure projects have reduced and fragmented forests. Many of India’s identified elephant corridors are now under pressure or blocked, disrupting seasonal migration and breeding.

Human-Elephant Conflict

Shrinking habitats force elephants into agricultural areas, leading to crop damage and fatalities. Every year, 400–500 humans and over 60 elephants die in such conflicts. Climate change worsens the situation, with droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall pushing elephants into human areas.

Poaching and Illegal Trade

Despite a global ivory ban, poaching remains a threat. Male elephants with tusks are targeted, leading to imbalanced sex ratios. In parts of Northeast India, elephants are also killed for meat, skin, and tail hair.

Infrastructure Threats and Accidents

• Low-hanging power lines cause electrocution.

• Explosives intended for wild boars injure elephants.

• Open wells and trenches in rural areas lead to fatal accidents.

Limited Resources

Conservation areas like Similipal (Odisha) suffer from low staff strength, poor infrastructure, and limited surveillance, making them vulnerable to poaching and conflict.

Measures Needed for Effective Elephant Conservation

Infrastructure Mitigation

• Build ramps, overpasses, and underpasses along railway tracks

• Install Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) to alert train operators

Community-Based Deterrents

• Use chili-oil fences to deter elephants from crop fields

• Set up beehive fences to prevent raids and generate local income

• Introduce banana trap crops (e.g., napier grass, bananas) along forest edges to draw elephants away from main farmlands

Habitat Connectivity

• Reconnect forest patches through land acquisition and community participation (as per Elephant Task Force 2010)

• Ensure Gram Sabha consent in relocation and land-use changes

Technological Interventions

• Deploy GPS collars to monitor elephant movements and forecast conflict hotspots

• Use remote sensing and camera traps for habitat monitoring

Capacity Building

• Train forest staff in non-lethal conflict resolution

• Improve veterinary care, surveillance, and mobility in remote areas

Public Awareness and Participation

• Expand initiatives like Gaj Yatra and Gaj Shilpi, which involve local communities and artists in awareness campaigns

• Promote eco-tourism and education to generate community-based conservation support

Conclusion

Elephants are not just India's National Heritage Animal, but also critical ecosystem engineers and conservation icons. While India has made commendable progress in protecting these majestic creatures, numerous challenges—ranging from habitat loss to poaching—persist. A multi-pronged approach involving technology, policy, community engagement, and international cooperation is essential to ensure a sustainable future for elephants and the forests they help maintain.