WHAT IS PROJECT ELEPHANT?

Admin December 08, 2022 Bio diversity, civil service, conservation, corridors, elephant, Environment, hunting, IUCN, mains, man animal conflict, prelims, project elephant, Protection, red list, right of passage of animals, UPSC

ASIAN ELEPHANTS

Asian elephant has three major subspecies -

Indian
Sumatran
Sri Lankan

Indian subspecies has the widest range, they accounts for most of the remaining elephants on the continent.
An elephant herd is led by the oldest and largest female member, she is known as the matriarch. The herd includes the daughters of the matriarch and their offspring.
Elephants have a gestational period of 680 days, it is the longest known pregnancy period of all mammals.
Global Population ; 20,000 to 40,000

AFRICAN ELEPHANTS

The Savanna (bush elephant ) and Forest elephant are the two subspecies of African elephant.
Global population : Around 4,00,000

THREATS

Increasing poaching
Loss of habitat
Human- elephant conflict
Mistreatment in captivity
Abuse related to elephant tourism
Mining
Corridor destruction

CONSEVATION EFFORTS

Creating stringent laws.
Establishing elephant reserves : For example Mysuru and Dandeli elephant reserves in Karnataka.
Removing invasive species that prevent the growth of grass for elephants to feed on.
Placing Barricades to reduce conflicts.
Measures to prevent forest fires.
Nation wide awareness campaign Gaj Yatra for securing elephant corridors.
MIKE ; Monitoring the legal Killing of Elephants, international collaboration.

PROJECT ELEPHNAT

Centrally sponsored scheme.
Launched in February 1992.
Aims to protect elephants and their habitats and corridors.
Financial and technical support is provided by The Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change to major elephant range states.
Madras High court on the Nilgiris elephant corridor Affirmed the right of passage of animals and the closure of resorts in the area..
Recently the SC also upheld the same.

ELEPHANT RESRVES IN INDIA