Introduction
• The Indian elephant - Elephas maximus
• The Asian elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal in Asia.
• Occurs in the central and southern Western Ghats, North-east India, eastern India and northern India and in
some parts of southern peninsular India.
• It occurs in 16 of the 28 states in the country.
• The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1986.
• It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and in Appendix I of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).
• The population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations of elephants, which is about 60–
75 years.
• The Asian elephant is primarily threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation, fragmentation, and
poaching.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species:
• African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis)-
Critically Endangered
• African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta Africana)-
Endangered (largest Elephant Species)
• Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)-
Endangered
African Forest African Savanna Elephant Asian Elephant
Elephant (Bush Elephants)
Project Elephant
• Project Elephant was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme with following objectives:
1. To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
2. To address issues of man-animal conflict
3. Welfare of captive elephants
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides the financial and technical support to
major elephant range states in the country through Project Elephant.
Important Facts
• Elephant – National Heritage animal of India
• Elephant census is conducted once in 5 years
• Project Elephant was launched in February 1992
• World Elephant day celebrated on 12th August
• Elephants are considered a "Keystone Species" as
they play a critical role in maintaining the balance and
health of forest ecosystems.
• Karnataka has the highest number of elephants,
followed by Assam and Kerala.
• In Karnataka, Bandipur Tiger Reserve has the highest
population of elephants
• Tamil Nadu ad Assam have highest number of
Elephant Reserves in India (5 each)
• India’s 1st Elephant reserve or elephant sanctuary
was the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve of Jharkhand.
• 31st ER – Lemru ER, Chhattisgarh (2022)
• 32nd ER – Agasthyamalai ER, Tamil Nadu (2022)
• 33rd ER – Terai ER, Uttar Pradesh (2022)
• Largest ER – Mysore ER, Karnataka (6724 sq km)
• Smallest ER – Singphan ER, Nagaland (23.57 sq km)
S. No. Elephant Reserve State
1 Rayala ER Andhra Pradesh
2 Kameng ER Arunachal Pradesh
3 South Arunachal ER Arunachal Pradesh
4 Sonitpur ER Assam
5 Dihing-Patkai ER Assam
6 Kaziranga – Karbi Anglong ER Assam
7 Dhansiri-Lungding ER Assam
8 Chirang-Ripu ER Assam
9 Badalkhol-Tamorpingla Chhattisgarh
10 Lemru ER Chhattisgarh
11 Singhbhum ER Jharkhand
12 Mysore ER Karnataka
13 Dandeli ER Karnataka
14 Wayanad ER Kerala
15 Nilambur ER Kerala
16 Anamudi ER Kerala
17 Periyar Kerala
18 Garo Hills ER Meghalaya
19 Intanki ER Nagaland
20 Singphan ER Nagaland
21 Mayurbhanj ER Odisha
22 Mahanadi ER Odisha
23 Sambalpur ER Odisha
24 Nilgiri ER Tamil Nadu
25 Coimbatore ER Tamil Nadu
26 Anamalai ER Tamil Nadu
27 Srivilliputtur ER Tamil Nadu
28 Agasthyamalai ER Tamil Nadu
29 Uttar Pradesh ER Uttar Pradesh
30 Terai ER Uttar Pradesh
31 Shivalik ER Uttarakhand
32 Mayurjharna ER West Bengal
33 Eastern Dooars ER West Bengal
