WORLD
ELEPHANT DAY - ENVIRONMENT
News: Shri Bhupender Yadav says with the
largest population of wild Asian elephants, India is the mainstay for long-term
conservation of the species
What's
in the news?
● Recently,
on the occasion of World Elephant Day, the Union Minister of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment highlighted various
initiatives and accomplishments in India's elephant conservation journey.
World
Elephant Day:
● World
Elephant Day, observed globally on August
12, is a dedicated observance aimed at raising awareness about the critical
challenges confronting elephants and advocating for their protection and
conservation.
● This
significant day provides a platform to emphasize the issues elephants face,
encompassing habitat loss, ivory poaching, human-elephant conflicts, and the
imperative for enhanced conservation endeavours.
Elephants
in India:
● India
has the largest number of wild Asian Elephants, estimated at 29,964 according to the 2017 census by
Project Elephant.
● It
is about 60% of the species global population.
● Karnataka has the highest number of
elephants, followed by Assam and Kerala.
Conservation
Status:
● International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Red List of threatened species:
○ African
Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis) - Critically Endangered
○ African
Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) - Endangered
○ Asian
Elephant (Elephas maximus) - Endangered
● Convention
of the Migratory species (CMS):
○ African
Forest Elephant: Appendix II
○ Asian
Elephant: Appendix I
● Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
Schedule I
● Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
○ African
Savanna Elephant: Appendix II
○ Asian
Elephant: Appendix I
Government
Initiatives:
1. Addressing Elephant-Human Conflict:
● Establishment
of over 40 elephant corridors and 88 wildlife crossings to reduce conflicts.
● Creation
of buffer zones around protected areas covering more than 17,000 sq. km.
2.
Project Elephant:
● Launched
in 1992, covering 23 states across India.
● Improved
the status of wild elephants, with a population increase from about 25,000 in
1992 to around 30,000 in 2021.
3.
Elephant Reserves:
● Establishment
of 33 Elephant Reserves covering approximately 80,777 Sq.km.
● These
reserves play a crucial role in safeguarding wild elephant populations and
their habitats.