Why in the News?

 The Environment Ministry has shelved its elephant census report, ‘Status of Elephant in India 2022-23’, citing a delay in the census in the Northeast.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Elephant Conservation (Importance, Current Status, Challenges, Govt. Initiatives, etc.)
• News Summary

Elephant Conservation in India:

• Elephants are not only iconic species in India but also an integral part of the country’s ecological and cultural heritage.
• Designated as the National Heritage Animal of India, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) holds immense significance.
• However, the species is under increasing threat due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching, making their conservation a priority for India.

Importance of Elephant Conservation:

• Keystone Species:
  • Elephants play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats.
  • They are considered keystone species because their activities, such as seed dispersal and tree-felling, shape the forest ecosystems they inhabit.
• Tourism and Economy:
  • Elephants attract global tourism, especially in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
  • Tourism related to elephant safaris and wildlife watching significantly contributes to the local economy.

Current Status of Elephant Populations in India:

• As of the last reported census in 2017, India is home to approximately 27,312 wild elephants, spread across four major landscapes:
• North-Eastern India: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and other north-eastern states.
• Eastern-Central India: Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
• Southern India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Northern India: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
• The "Status of Elephants in India 2022-23" report, though delayed, is expected to reveal a decline in elephant numbers, especially in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Kerala.
• Initial reports indicate that elephant populations in some of these states have dropped by 50-80% due to habitat degradation and other anthropogenic pressures.

Challenges Facing Elephant Conservation:

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
  • Rapid deforestation, urbanization, and development projects like mining and linear infrastructure (roads and railways) have led to shrinking elephant habitats.
  • Fragmented landscapes disrupt migration corridors, increasing human-elephant conflict.
• Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC):
  • As human populations encroach upon elephant habitats, incidents of human-elephant conflict have risen.
  • Elephants often raid agricultural fields, leading to crop damage and, in some cases, human casualties. This conflict has led to retaliatory killings and injuries to elephants.
• Poaching and Illegal Trade:
  • Elephants are poached for their ivory, although trade in ivory is banned in India. Other threats include electrocution from low-hanging power lines and accidents with trains.
• Climate Change:
  • Changing weather patterns affect the availability of food and water for elephants. Droughts and erratic rainfall patterns impact both their natural habitats and the communities living near them.

Government Initiatives for Elephant Conservation:

• Recognizing the need for concerted conservation efforts, the Government of India has implemented a range of policies and initiatives to protect elephants and their habitats.
• Project Elephant (1992):
  • Launched in 1992, Project Elephant is a flagship conservation initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • The primary objectives of Project Elephant include:
    • Protecting elephants, their habitats, and migration corridors.
    • Addressing human-elephant conflict.
    • Ensuring the welfare of captive elephants.
  • Project Elephant works in collaboration with states that have significant elephant populations.
  • These states include Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Assam, and West Bengal.
  • Under the project, several initiatives are undertaken to monitor elephant populations, restore degraded habitats, and create awareness about the importance of elephant conservation.
• Elephant Corridors:
  • India has identified 101 elephant corridors across the country that are critical for ensuring safe movement of elephants between habitats.
  • These corridors reduce habitat fragmentation and help mitigate human-elephant conflict.
  • The Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), along with the government, work on securing these corridors.
• Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE):
  • MIKE is an international program under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
  • India is part of this initiative to monitor the illegal killing of elephants and gather data on poaching to curb the ivory trade.
• Gaj Yatra Campaign:
  • The Gaj Yatra is a nationwide campaign launched by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and MoEFCC to raise awareness about the importance of elephant conservation and protecting elephant corridors.
  • The campaign promotes coexistence between humans and elephants.
• National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP):
  • The NEAP, launched by the MoEFCC, provides a comprehensive framework for long-term management of wild elephants.
  • It focuses on scientific research, conflict management, habitat conservation, and strengthening anti-poaching measures.

2022-23 elephant census report:

• The Environment Ministry has delayed the release of the 2022-23 elephant census report, primarily because the census in the Northeast is not yet complete.
• Although the report for the rest of India has been printed, it will not be made public until June 2025.
• Key Findings:
  • Elephant populations have sharply declined in the east-central and southern regions.
  • For example, elephant numbers in West Bengal have dropped by 84%, in Jharkhand by 64%, in Odisha by 54%, and in Kerala by 51%.
  • The report blames development projects like mining and infrastructure construction for threatening elephant habitats.
• Counting Methods:
  • The census used improved counting methods, including DNA profiling.
  • However, experts argue that these new methods alone do not fully explain the large decline in elephant numbers.
  • Previous counting methods, like the "total direct count" and "indirect dung count", had limitations but are important for tracking trends over time.
• Why the Delay is a Problem:
  • Experts are concerned that the delay will harm conservation efforts.
  • They believe that the government should release the available data to guide policy and interventions.
  • In some regions, like Odisha, threats like mining and low-hanging power lines have caused significant harm to elephant populations, and timely action is critical.