Published: 28th Sep, 2023
Context
A new elephant corridor report has been released by the central government that showed a 40 per cent increase in elephant corridors across 15 elephant range states in India.
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Elephant corridors can be defined as a strip of land that enables elephant movement between two or more friendly habitats. The corridors were reported by respective state governments and ground validation methods were used to verify them. |
Highlights of the Report:
- The government has identified 62 new elephant corridors, marking a significant milestone in the nation's commitment to wildlife conservation.
- This brings the total number of such corridors to 150, a remarkable increase from the 88 registered in 2010.
- The elephant population in the country is estimated to be over 30,000.
- West Bengal has the most elephant corridors — 26 — amounting to 17 per cent of the total corridors.
- The increase in the elephant corridors reflected that elephants have expanded their ranges in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra neighbouring Chhattisgarh and southern Maharashtra bordering Karnataka.
- Elephants have also seen increased presence in Madhya Pradesh found in Sanjay Tiger reserves and Bandhavgarh.
- Region-wise Data:
- East central region contributed to 35 per cent, which is 52 corridors,
- The North East region was second largest with 32 per cent number meaning 48 corridors in total.
- Southern India registered 32, that is 21 per cent of the elephant corridors,
- Northern India was lowest with 18 corridors or 12 per cent.
- Status of Corridor Use:
- Elephant corridor report released by the central government showed a 40% increase in elephant corridors across 15 elephant range states in India.
- 19% of corridors (29) show a decrease in use, and 10 require restoration due to impairment.
- Concerns highlighted: The decrease in corridor use is attributed to the habitat fragmentation, shrinkage and destruction.
Elephants in India:
- Elephants are keystone species as well as the Natural Heritage Animal of India.
- India has the largest number of wild Asian Elephants. The elephant population in the country is estimated to be over 30,000.
- Karnataka has the highest elephant population in India.
- Conservation Status:
- Convention of the Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species:
- Asian Elephant: Endangered
- African Forest Elephant: Critically Endangered
- African Savanna Elephant: Endangered
Government Efforts:
- Gaj Yatra: It is a nationwide campaign to protect elephants launched by Ministry of Environment and Forest.
- The campaign is planned to cover 12 elephant range states across the country.
- It is a 15 months campaign led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
- The campaign aims create awareness about elephant corridors to encourage free movement in their habitat.
- Project Elephant: The Government of India introduced Project Elephant in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the following goals:
- To safeguard elephants, their habitat, and migration routes
- To address problems of animal-human conflict
- Elephant welfare in captivity
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