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Challenges to conservation:
The threats to survival of elephants are manifold, of which human-el- ephant conflict is the most important conservation concern. Habitat degradation, fragmentation of habitats, expansion of human settle- ments and agricultural fields, linear infrastructure developments, an- thropogenic pressures coupled with climate change has resulted in widespread loss of elephant habitat and reduced habitat connectiv- ity. Every year, more than 500 humans and 100 elephants lose their lives due to human-elephant conflicts in the country.
It is very appropriate to highlight the fact that in spite of the various developmental programmes and loss of habitats in some parts of the country, India’s elephant conservation model is one which is much acclaimed all over the world. Various legal and protection measures resulted in the stabilization of the elephant population in the coun- try. Notification of Elephant Reserves has resulted in giving focused attention to the elephant conservation in the country. The various el- ephant Range states in the country have notified the Elephant Re- serves to strengthen the conservation of elephants and at present the country has 30 Elephant Reserves spread over an area of 65000 sq.kms. To address the situation of rising human – elephant conflict, Ministry has issued the comprehensive guidelines on Human El- ephant Conflict Mitigation in 2017 and has also constituted a Cen- tral Project Elephant Monitoring Committee to find out site specific methods of mitigating HEC. Government of India has also enhanced the ex-gratia compensation for the loss of human life from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs for reducing the conflicts. Many states are giving much higher amounts as ex-gratia. The Captive Elephant Health and Wel- fare Committee constituted by the Ministry in 2019 addresses the health care and welfare aspects of captive elephants including that of creation of Elephant Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in major elephant states.
An “Elephant Cell” has also been established by the Ministry in 2019 as a technical wing of the Project Elephant Division and is assisting the Project Elephant Division on the preparation of Strategic Action Plan for mitigation of HEC in the East-Central landscape; creation of database and conducting DNA profiling of captive elephants in In- dia; preparation of the National Elephant Action Plan and also final- ising the portal on human – elephant conflict management in India. Ministry has also finalised the “Protocol” on Transboundary Elephant Conservation between India and Bangladesh. This will ensure trans- boundary conservation of elephants in the North eastern elephant landscape.
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