Asian elephant
Why in news?
- A significant decline is seen in the population of Asian elephant in India, with the latest estimate at 22,446 individuals, marking an approximately 18% to 25% drop since the 2017 count.
- The decline in population is attributed primarily to habitat loss, fragmentation, and increasing human-elephant conflicts.
- Development activities such as agriculture expansion, mining, infrastructure projects like highways and railways, and habitat encroachment have reduced and fragmented elephant habitats.
- Scientific name: Elephas maximus
- Endangered status: IUCN Red List since 1986
- Adult weight: 2,700–5,200 kg for females, up to 6,800 kg for males
- Lifespan: Up to 60 years in the wild
- Social structure: Matriarchal herds, solitary or bachelor males
Habitat
- Asian elephants in India inhabit diverse habitats including grasslands, tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist and dry deciduous forests, and scrublands.
- The Indian elephant population is estimated around 22,446 as per the 2021-25 census, mainly concentrated in the Western Ghats, North Eastern Hills, Shivalik Hills, Gangetic plains, and Central India.
- However, less than 25% of their range falls within protected areas; much habitat lies outside these zones.
- The biggest threats to Asian elephants in India include habitat loss and fragmentation caused by expanding human populations, agriculture, mining, infrastructure development.
- Human-elephant conflict arises as elephants raid crops and enter human settlements, leading to sometimes fatal retaliation.
- Poaching for ivory and body parts, although less than in African elephants, also remains a concern.
- Project Elephant (launched 1992) supports states in protecting elephant populations, their habitats, and migratory corridors.
- Initiatives to mitigate human-elephant conflict through community engagement and alternative livelihood support.
- Strengthening of anti-poaching measures.
- Conservation programs like the Asian Elephant Conservation Programme (AECP) focus on scientific research, population monitoring, and conflict mitigation.
