The Indian government has recently identified 62 new elephant corridors, signaling a significant move towards wildlife conservation in the country. With this addition, the total number of such corridors has increased to 150. This is a substantial leap from the 88 corridors that were registered in 2010.
Understanding Elephant Corridors
Elephant corridors are effectively strips of land that facilitate the movements of elephants between two or more amiable habitats. These corridors were identified by respective state governments and subsequently validated through ground validation methods.
Distribution of Elephant Corridors Across India
As per the report, West Bengal is home to the largest number of corridors – 26 in total, amounting to 17% of the overall count. Following closely, East Central India accounts for 35% with 52 corridors, North East India houses 32% with 48 corridors, Southern India accommodates 21% with 32 corridors while Northern India possesses the least with 12% equating to 18 corridors.
Status of Elephant Corridors
The elephant corridor report issued by the central government demonstrated a 40% increment in elephant corridors across 15 elephant range states in India. However, 19% of these corridors (29) have shown a decrease in utilization and 10 need restoration due to damage, primarily attributed to habitat fragmentation and destruction.
Reasoning Behind Increase in Corridors
The rise in the number of elephant corridors can be linked to the expanded ranges of elephants in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and southern Maharashtra, which borders Karnataka. There has also been a noted increase in elephant sightings in Madhya Pradesh and northern Andhra Pradesh.
Significance of Elephants in India
Elephants are essential keystone species and also the Natural Heritage Animal of India. The country boasts the largest population of wild Asian Elephants, estimated to be over 30,000, with the majority of them residing in Karnataka – the state with the highest elephant population in India.
Conservation Status of Elephants
Elephants carry the convention of the Migratory Species (CMS) Appendix I and are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Schedule I. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, Asian Elephants are endangered while African Forest Elephants and African Savanna Elephants are critically endangered.
Conservation Efforts: National and International
On a national level, India has implemented the Gaj Yatra Project Elephant for conservation. Internationally, the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme operates to protect elephants. Additionally, World Elephant Day is observed to raise awareness about the plight of these magnificent creatures.
Insights from UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
A question from the 2020 UPSC Civil Services Examination Prelims was related to Indian elephants. It covered various aspects such as the leadership within an elephant group, their gestation period, calving age, and the state with the highest elephant population in India. This indicates the importance of understanding the significance and status of elephants for competitive examinations.
The outlined information in this article serves as a guide to grasp the importance of elephant corridors for ensuring the survival and longevity of the elephant population in India. With continuous governmental efforts and public awareness, it is hoped that the status of elephants in India will improve, securing the future of these invaluable species.
