Govt shelves elephant census, population drops 20% in 5 years

Data from the unreleased 2022–23 Elephant Census indicates India’s elephant population has decreased by 20% in five years, with some regions experiencing more dramatic declines. Despite the findings submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in February 2024, the report hasn’t been made public. The delay is due to the incomplete census of elephants in the North-East region.

India’s elephant population dropped 20%

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducts the census every five years, using advanced techniques like DNA profiling and camera traps for a more accurate elephant population estimate. This makes it the most scientific census in India. However, the ministry is withholding the report, stating the findings are interim and the final results, including North-East data, will be available by June 2025.

The findings have raised serious concerns among conservationists and wildlife experts. The Indian Express report revealed the elephant population in Central India and Eastern Ghats has decreased by 41% since 2017. Kerala saw a 51% drop during the same period.

The report attributes the decline to rapid infrastructure development and unchecked mining activities that fragmented elephant habitats, leading to a loss of movement corridors. Additionally, railway collisions, electrocution by power lines, and ivory poaching remain significant threats to the country’s elephant population.

In West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha, elephant numbers have dropped by 84%, 64%, and 54%. Nearly 1,700 elephants have disappeared, with many migrating to safer habitats in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

Elephant numbers dropped, many migrated

The MoEFCC has defended the delay in releasing the report, emphasizing the incomplete North-East census, which had over 10,000 elephants last time. Heavy monsoon rains, difficult terrain, and limited forest staff have hampered the census efforts, making accurate data collection challenging.

The ministry stated in a statement cited by The Indian Express, “WII prepared an interim draft report. However, it lacked a uniform methodology and results, especially for the Northeastern states. By WII the following year, the estimation should be complete, and a report ought to be ready by June 2025.

Wildlife experts express frustration over the delay, claiming the ministry is reluctant to accept the findings for the rest of India, showing a decline in the elephant population. They argue the ministry’s reluctance is problematic given Minister Bhupender Yadav’s August 2024 statement that India’s elephant population remains stable, which contradicts the report findings.

The census highlights dwindling elephant numbers and growing conservation threats in India. Urbanization, deforestation, and linear infrastructure projects like roads, railways, and power lines have made it difficult for elephants to maintain their habitats and migration routes.

In states like the Western Ghats, known for their stable elephant population, the report warns of rapid disconnection due to expanding plantations, farmland fencing, and human encroachment. Since 2017, the area’s elephant population has decreased by 18%, primarily due to a 51% decline in Kerala.

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