India’s elephant population is facing a significant threat due to an unexpected cause: electrocution. Between 2009 and 2017, a staggering total of 461 elephants lost their lives to electrocution. The eastern and northeastern regions of the country have seen the highest number of these tragic incidents. The migratory patterns of the elephants might be a contributing factor, as they are moving out of forests and into agricultural spaces. Addressing this issue calls for increased coordination between multiple governmental bodies, including the Forest Department and Power Department, and regular monitoring of power lines in elephant zones.
The Human-Elephant Conflict Emerging in New Areas
Places that had no history of elephant presence, such as Chhattisgarh, are now facing a surge in human-elephant conflicts. With elephants widening their range across the country, these clashes have become increasingly commonplace. Counteracting this problem requires zone-wise management plans, outlining the areas where elephants are permitted and where their movements need to be restricted to prevent mishaps.
Prevention Measures Against Electrocution
Several measures can be taken to prevent the electrocution of elephants. These include ending illegal electrical fencing, establishing guidelines for the height of high-tension electrical wires, and implementing specific management plans for various elephant landscapes.
Elephant Population in India
According to the all-India synchronized census of elephants conducted in 2017, the total elephant population was 27,312. The states with the highest population of elephants are Karnataka (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala (3,054).
| Elephant Population in 2017 | Karnataka | Assam | Kerala |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephants | 6,049 | 5,719 | 3,054 |
Subspecies of Elephants
There are three subspecies of the Asian elephant: the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan. The Indian subspecies covers the widest range and constitutes the majority of the continent’s remaining elephant population. The IUCN Red List of threatened species lists African elephants as “vulnerable” and Asian elephants as “endangered”. Moreover, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) classifies elephants under Appendix I, marking them as severely endangered.
Conservation Efforts
Various conservation efforts have been initiated to protect the elephant population in India. ‘Project Elephant’ was launched by the Government of India in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which led to the establishment of various elephant reserves. The adoption of ‘World Elephant Day’ on August 12th is another significant step taken to improve their welfare and conserve their numbers. ‘Gaj Yatra’, a nationwide awareness campaign, aims to celebrate elephants and secure critical elephant corridors. In 2017, the Wildlife Trust of India published a report emphasizing the need for better protection of elephant corridors. Lastly, the Monitoring the Killing of Elephants (MIKE) program, launched in 2003, tracks information related to the illegal killing of elephants across Africa and Asia to assess the effectiveness of field conservation efforts.