- Why in news
- On 12 August 2026, World Elephant Day, PIB released a note on India's elephant conservation. It cites SAIEE 2021–25 (22,446 wild elephants), 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 corridors.
- What it is
- The Asian elephant is a keystone species that ranges over large forest landscapes across South and Southeast Asia. India holds about 60% of the wild population. Project Elephant, launched in 1992 by the Centre, supports States in protecting elephants, their habitats and corridors.
- Population estimate
- SAIEE 2021–25 puts India's wild elephants at 22,446. It was the first DNA-based synchronised census, using dung samples, block counts and line-transect surveys.
- Share of world population
- India hosts nearly 60% of the world's wild Asian elephants.
- Implementing agency
- Project Elephant is run by MoEFCC. It gives financial and technical help to States for habitats, captive elephants and conflict mitigation.
- Legal status
- The Asian elephant is in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and in CITES Appendix I.
Don’t confuse with Project Elephant vs Project Tiger: Both are centrally sponsored species programmes under MoEFCC. Project Elephant (1992) covers elephant ranges and reserves; Project Tiger (1973) covers tiger reserves, run with the NTCA.
Don’t confuse with Elephant Reserve vs Elephant Corridor: Reserves are large managed landscapes (33 in India). Corridors are narrow links between fragmented habitats (150 identified).
Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.
Why it matters
- Elephants are a keystone species: they disperse seeds, cycle nutrients and open water holes for other wildlife.
- Corridors keep habitats connected and genetic diversity healthy.
Problems
- Habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and illegal trade drive conflict.
- Corridors are impaired or declining in use: 15 are impaired and 29 show declining use.
Way forward
- Take Management Effectiveness Evaluation to all reserves and implement Regional Action Plans across States.
- Add structures and sensing technology on railway stretches and speed up compensation.
Put in your answer
SAIEE 2021–25: Wild elephant estimate of 22,446, using a DNA-based census.
Railway mitigation: Train-hit elephant deaths fell from 26 (2013) to 12 (2024).
Ex-gratia: ₹10 lakh is paid for death or permanent incapacitation from conflict.
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q17How biodiversity varies in India and how the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 aids conservation.
- 1999Prelims Q54Identify the animal whose Indian population is largest among Asian species, with its habitats.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about elephant conservation in India: 1. The Synchronous All India Population Estimation of Elephants (SAIEE) 2021–25 was India's first DNA-based synchronised elephant census. 2. Project Elephant is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 3. West Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors among the States. 4. The Asian elephant is listed in Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.India hosts nearly 60% of the world's wild Asian elephant population.
True. India has nearly 60% of wild Asian elephants.
2.SAIEE 2021–25 was the first DNA-based synchronised elephant census in India.
True. It used dung-based DNA fingerprinting.
3.Project Elephant is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
False. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
4.Among the regions, the North-East has the largest number of elephant corridors in India.
False. East-Central has the most (52), ahead of the North-East (48).
5.West Bengal has the highest number of elephant corridors in the country.
True. West Bengal has 26 corridors, over 17% of the total.
6.The High-Powered Committee on interstate transfer of captive elephants was constituted under a Supreme Court order.
True. It was constituted under the Supreme Court's order of 3 March 2023.
7.Train-hit elephant deaths fell from 26 in 2013 to 12 in 2024.
True. Deaths fell by more than 50 percent.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.