Human-elephant conflicts are on the rise due to "competition for resources", with around 500 people in the country dying in elephant attacks and 100 jumbos "killed in retaliation" annually. Similarly, at least 14 elephants were killed by poachers in 2020-21 compared to nine in the previous year and seizures of ivory doubled in the same period.
Concerned at the alarming man-jumbo conflict, the Government is banking on the role of the community in conserving wildlife.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Friday that to reach out to the families of the victims affected by elephants, the Centre has increased the ex-gratia from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “To find a long-term solution, we are revisiting the elephant corridors of the country and have finished more than 50 per cent of the task involving key stakeholders in this endeavour," he said at an event on the World Elephant Day celebrations at the Periyar National Park in Kerala.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “On World Elephant Day, reiterating our commitment to protect the elephant. You would be happy to know that India houses about 60% of all Asian elephants. The number of elephant reserves has risen in the last 8 years. I also laud all those involved in protecting elephants.”
Noting that elephant conservation in the country has done remarkably well despite many challenges, Yadav said India continues to be a leader in ensuring protection to the largest mammal under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India has the largest and the most stable population of Asian elephants, the minister said, adding that the country houses more than 60 per cent of wild Asian elephants.
The population of elephants was 29,964 as recorded in the last elephant census conducted in 2017, he said.
This has brought the total area under Elephant Reserves in India to about 76,508 sq km across 14 states of the country.
"I am very happy to share with you all that later today India is going to witness the establishment of one more Elephant Reserve, the Agasthyamalai in Tamil Nadu, adding another 1,197 sq km of Protected Area dedicated for protection and conservation of elephants in India," said the Union Environment Minister.
