ELEPHANT CORRIDORS IN INDIA

India is home to a significant population of elephants, although exact numbers may vary due to ongoing conservation efforts and population fluctuations. Elephants in India primarily inhabit forested regions across several states, with major populations found in:

• Southern India: States like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have significant elephant populations. Karnataka, in particular, has one of the largest populations of wild elephants in India.

• Northeastern India: States like Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland are also home to substantial elephant populations. The forests of Assam, in particular, are vital habitats for elephants.

• Central India: States like Chhattisgarh and Odisha also have elephant populations, although they are not as dense as in southern and northeastern regions.

• Western India: States like Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat have smaller elephant populations, primarily in forested areas.

The exact distribution and population numbers of elephants in India can be challenging to ascertain due to factors such as the vastness of their habitats, dense forest cover, and the elephants' migratory patterns. However, estimates suggest that India is home to around 27,000 to 30,000 wild elephants.

Conservation efforts in India focus on protecting elephant habitats, mitigating human-elephant conflicts, preventing poaching and illegal trade in elephant products, and promoting awareness about the importance of elephant conservation among local communities. 

• Elephant populations require genetic exchange to maintain their health and genetic diversity. Corridors allow elephants to move between fragmented habitats, facilitating gene flow between populations. This movement helps prevent inbreeding and ensures the long-term viability of elephant populations
• As human populations expand and encroach upon elephant habitats, conflicts between humans and elephants increase. Elephant corridors provide safe passages for elephants to move between different areas without coming into direct contact with human settlements. This helps reduce incidents of crop raiding, property damage, and human injuries or fatalities caused by elephants
• Elephants are nomadic animals that require large ranges to meet their nutritional and social needs. In India, where forests are increasingly fragmented due to human activities such as agriculture, infrastructure development, and urbanization, elephant corridors ensure that elephants can access seasonal habitats, water sources, and food resources essential for their survival
• Elephant corridors not only benefit elephants but also facilitate the movement of other wildlife species. By connecting fragmented habitats, corridors enable the dispersal of species, maintain ecological balance, and promote biodiversity conservation. This interconnectedness of habitats is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems and the survival of various plant and animal species
• Many regions in India rely on ecotourism as a source of livelihood. Elephant corridors, by preserving natural habitats and wildlife populations, support sustainable ecotourism initiatives that contribute to local economies while conserving natural resources for future generations

Project Elephant is a wildlife conservation initiative launched by the Government of India in 1992 with the aim of protecting and conserving wild elephants and their habitats. The project addresses various aspects of elephant conservation, including habitat management, protection from poaching and illegal trade, mitigating human-elephant conflicts, and promoting public awareness and community participation in conservation efforts.

Key objectives of Project Elephant include:

• The project focuses on the conservation and management of elephant habitats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and other protected areas. It aims to maintain and restore these habitats to ensure the long-term survival of elephant populations
• Project Elephant works to prevent poaching of elephants for their ivory tusks and other body parts, as well as the illegal trade in elephant products. It involves strengthening law enforcement measures, increasing surveillance in elephant habitats, and raising awareness about the consequences of wildlife crime
• One of the significant challenges in elephant conservation is human-elephant conflicts, which arise when elephants come into conflict with human activities such as agriculture, infrastructure development, and settlements. Project Elephant implements measures to reduce such conflicts, including the creation of elephant corridors, construction of barriers to protect crops, and compensation schemes for affected communities
• The project supports scientific research and monitoring initiatives to better understand elephant ecology, behavior, population dynamics, and the impacts of human activities on elephant populations. This information helps guide conservation strategies and management decisions
• Project Elephant aims to build capacity among government agencies, conservation organizations, and local communities involved in elephant conservation. It also promotes public awareness and education programs to foster understanding and support for elephant conservation efforts

5. Dulung-Subansiri elephant corridor

 

The Dulung-Subansiri Elephant Corridor is a crucial passage connecting fragmented habitats in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. This corridor is significant for the conservation of Asian elephants, allowing them to move between different forested areas in the region. The corridor is named after the Dulung and Subansiri rivers, which it connects.

Here are some key points about the Dulung-Subansiri Elephant Corridor:

• Location: The corridor is located in the northeastern part of India, specifically in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh shares its borders with the Indian states of Assam and Nagaland to the south and southeast, respectively, and with Bhutan to the west, Myanmar to the east, and China to the north.

• Importance: The Dulung-Subansiri Elephant Corridor is vital for maintaining the connectivity of elephant habitats in the region. It allows elephants to move between different forest patches, seasonal habitats, and feeding grounds, thus facilitating genetic exchange and population dispersal. By preserving this corridor, conservationists aim to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and ensure the long-term survival of elephant populations in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Conservation Efforts: Conservation organizations, government agencies, and local communities are involved in efforts to protect and manage the Dulung-Subansiri Elephant Corridor. These efforts include habitat restoration, land-use planning, community-based conservation initiatives, and measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts. By addressing the needs of both elephants and local communities, conservationists aim to ensure the sustainability of the corridor and its surrounding landscapes.

• Challenges: Like many elephant corridors, the Dulung-Subansiri Elephant Corridor faces various challenges, including habitat degradation, encroachment by human settlements and infrastructure development, poaching, and conflicts with humans. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts involving multiple stakeholders and the implementation of effective conservation strategies

6. Way Forward

 

The Dulung-Subansiri corridor is functional and of vital importance in the larger landscape for elephants. However, the corridor is tenuous at present and thus needs to be immediately notified and marked on the ground. It is also timely to further strengthen the corridor

 

 

For Prelims: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change For Mains:  General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

 

Previous Year Questions   1.With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:(UPSC CSE 2020) 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.   Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A.1 and 2 only B.2 and 4 only C.3 only D.1, 3 and 4 only Answer (A)

Source: Indianexpress