Elephant Reserves in India
: In 1992, the Indian government started Project Elephant to protect elephants, their homes, and paths they use to travel. It also aims to solve problems when elephants and people come into conflict and take care of elephants kept in captivity. Elephant Reserves in India is important for exams like SSC and banking, UPSC, RRB, so here's a list of Elephant Reserves in India and all relevant details.
Elephant Reserves in India
In 1992, India began Project Elephant to protect elephants and their homes. India has 33 elephant reserves. Every year on August 12th, World Elephant Day reminds us to save these big animals. There are three types of Asian elephants: Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan. India has over 28,000 elephants, with a quarter in Karnataka.
Elephant Reserves in India Aim
1. Scientific management of elephant conservation:
This involves using scientific methods and research to effectively manage elephant populations, their habitats, and conservation efforts. It includes gathering data on elephant behavior, population dynamics, habitat requirements, and threats they face.
2. Combating illegal ivory trade and poaching:
This involves implementing measures to prevent the illegal trade of elephant ivory and to stop poaching activities. It includes enforcing laws against ivory trade, increasing surveillance in elephant habitats, and implementing strategies to disrupt poaching networks.
3. Preventing unnatural elephant deaths in India:
This focuses on reducing human-induced causes of elephant mortality, such as electrocution from power lines, accidents on roads and railways, and conflicts with humans. Measures include installing barriers along roads and railways, creating safe passages for elephants, and implementing stricter regulations to prevent human-elephant conflicts.
4. Restoring ecological balance in elephant habitats and migratory routes:
This involves restoring and maintaining the natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants to ensure their long-term survival. It includes habitat restoration projects, reforestation efforts, and preserving natural corridors for elephant movement.
5. Resolving conflicts between humans and elephants:
This focuses on finding solutions to mitigate conflicts between humans and elephants, such as crop raiding and property damage. Strategies include implementing elephant-proof barriers, using deterrents to deter elephants from entering human settlements, and providing compensation to affected communities.
6. Limiting impacts of livestock and human activities in elephant habitats:
This involves minimizing the negative impacts of livestock grazing, agriculture, and other human activities on elephant habitats. It includes promoting sustainable land use practices, reducing habitat fragmentation, and creating buffer zones around protected areas.
7. Raising public awareness on elephant conservation:
This focuses on educating the public about the importance of elephant conservation and the threats facing elephant populations.
8. Providing veterinary care for domestic elephants:
This involves ensuring the health and well-being of domesticated elephants through regular veterinary care and medical treatment. It includes providing vaccinations, treatment for injuries and illnesses, and implementing welfare standards for captive elephants.
9. Promoting eco-friendly development tailored to elephant needs:
This involves promoting sustainable development practices that take into account the needs of elephants and their habitats. It includes incorporating elephant conservation considerations into land use planning, infrastructure development, and tourism activities.
List of Elephant Reserves in India
As officially designated by the government, India hosts 33 elephant reserves. The first Elephant Reserves in India was the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve in Jharkhand. Here's a comprehensive list of these Elephant Reserves in India.
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List of Elephant Reserves in India
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Zone
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State
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Elephant Reserves
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North-Western Landscape
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Uttrakhand
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Shivalik Elephant Reserve
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Uttarpradesh
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Uttar Pradesh Elephant Reserve
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East-Central Landscape
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West Bengal
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Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve
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Jharkhand
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Singhbhum Elephant Reserve
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Orissa
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Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve
Mahanadi Elephant Reserve
Sambalpur Elephant Reserve
Baitami Elephant Reserve
South Orissa Elephant Reserve
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Chhattisgarh
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Lemur Elephant Reserve
Badalkhol – Tamor Pingla Elephant Reserve
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Kameng- Sonitpur Landscape
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Arunachal Pradesh
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Kameng Elephant Reserve
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Assam
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Sonitpur Elephant Reserve
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Eastern-South Bank Landscape
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Assam
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Dihing-Patkai Elephant Reserve
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Arunachal Pradesh
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South Arunachal Elephant Reserve
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Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intanki Landscape
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Assam
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Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve
Dhansiri-Lungding Elephant Reserve
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Nagaland
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Intanki Elephant Reserve
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North Bengal- Greater Manas Landscape
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Assam
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Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve
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West Bengal
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Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve
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Meghalaya Landscape
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Meghalaya
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Garo Hills Elephant Reserve
Khasi-hills Elephant Reserve
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Brahmagiri- Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Landscape
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Karnataka
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Mysore Elephant Reserve
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Kerala
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Wayanad Elephant Reserve
Nilambur Elephant Reserve
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Tamil Nadu
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Coimbatore Elephant Reserve
Nilgiri Elephant Reserve
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Andhra Pradesh
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Rayala Elephant Reserve
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Annamalai- Nelliyampathy- High Range Landscape
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Tamil Nadu
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Annamalai Elephant Reserve
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Kerala
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Anamudi Elephant Reserve
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Periyar- Agasthyamalai Landscape
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Kerala
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Periyar Elephant Reserve
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Tamil Nadu
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Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve
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Project Elephant
Project Elephant is a significant initiative launched by the Indian government in February 1992 to protect and manage the elephant population in the country. Its main purpose is to ensure the well-being and conservation of elephants, particularly in states where challenges related to elephant conservation are prevalent.
The key objectives of Project Elephant are centered around preserving elephant corridors and habitats. These corridors are essential pathways that connect different elephant habitats, allowing them to move freely and maintain healthy populations. By protecting these corridors, Project Elephant aims to safeguard the natural movement, breeding, and genetic diversity of wild elephants.
Additionally, the project focuses on addressing various challenges faced by elephants, such as habitat fragmentation, human-elephant conflicts, and poaching. It involves implementing measures to mitigate these threats and promote coexistence between humans and elephants.
Project Elephant also emphasizes the importance of community participation and awareness in elephant conservation efforts. It encourages the involvement of local communities in conservation initiatives and raises awareness about the significance of protecting elephants and their habitats.
1st Elephant Reserves in India
The establishment of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve in Jharkhand was the first step in India's efforts to establish Elephant Reserves. The latest addition is the Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) in Dudhwa-Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. This new reserve covers a vast area of 3,049 square kilometers and is now India's 33rd Elephant Reserve. It includes protected areas, forests, and important corridors to protect the country's wild elephant populations.
33rd Elephant Reserves in India
Terai Elephant Reserve, spanning 3049 square kilometers, marks India's 33rd Elephant Reserve, situated in Uttar Pradesh. It's the second reserve in the state. Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve in Tamil Nadu and Lemru Elephant Reserve in Chhattisgarh are India's 32nd and 31st Elephant Reserves, respectively.
MIKE Programme for Project Elephant
Following adopting a CITES resolution during the Conference of Parties, the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) program was inaugurated in South Asia in 2003. MIKE's primary objective was to furnish essential information to the countries within the elephant's range to enable effective management of their elephant populations and ensure their long-term well-being.
The MIKE program operates with the following overarching goals:
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Monitoring the extent and trends of illicit poaching activities and facilitating transformative measures for the protection of elephants.
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Identifying the underlying reasons for these shifts in patterns and assessing the ramifications of decisions made by CITES conference parties.
Elephant Task Force
Due to increasing conflicts between humans and elephants, the government formed the Elephant Task Force to find solutions for protecting elephants, similar to what was done for tigers. India is home to many wild elephants, but only about 1,200 male elephants remain, making them as endangered as tigers. These elephants face threats like habitat loss, conflicts with humans, and illegal ivory trade. Project Elephant has been successful in maintaining a stable elephant population in India, protecting them from these threats.
Campaign Haathi Mere Saathi
In collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests released the "Hathi Mere Sathi" campaign. This initiative aimed for public awareness and cultivate harmonious relationships between elephants and local communities. "Haathi Mere Saathi" centered its efforts on the welfare, conservation, and protection of India's precious elephant population.
The campaign was launched in Delhi on May 24th, 2011, coinciding with the Elephant-8 ministerial meetings. The participating nations in the Elephant-8 ministerial meetings included Kenya, Sri Lanka, Botswana, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Indonesia, Thailand, and India, collectively dedicated to the cause of elephants' well-being.
