- On World Elephant Day (12 August 2026), Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s elephant conservation efforts.
- He noted India is home to over 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).
- The Prime Minister stated the nation has 33 Elephant Reserves, which provide habitats and strengthen long-term conservation efforts.
- He expressed pride in forest personnel, scientists, veterinarians, mahouts, and local communities integral to these efforts.
India’s Elephant Reserve Network
- India has 33 Elephant Reserves spread across 14 states, covering approximately 80,000 sq. km.
- The first formally notified reserve was the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve in Jharkhand.
- Elephant Reserves carry no independent statutory status, unlike Tiger Reserves notified under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Institutional & Policy Framework
- The nodal scheme is Project Elephant, launched in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- The elephant was declared India’s National Heritage Animal in 2010.
- A total of 150 Elephant Corridors have been documented across 15 elephant range states.
Stakeholders & Community Participation
- The PM specifically acknowledged the role of forest personnel, scientists, veterinarians, mahouts, and local communities in sustaining conservation outcomes.
- Gaj Yatra is a nationwide awareness campaign promoting human-elephant coexistence.
- The MIKE Programme (Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants) is implemented under CITES to track poaching patterns.
Conclusion
India’s elephant conservation architecture — anchored by Project Elephant, a network of 33 Elephant Reserves, and community-driven initiatives like Gaj Yatra — underscores the country’s position as custodian of over 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephant population, making this a recurring theme across environment and biodiversity-linked Prelims questions.